Financial Success Chutes and Ladders
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Financial Success!!
Put $50 in your
first savings
account.
Earn your first bit
of compound
interest.
Fill out your W-4
tax form.
Chutes and Ladders
Economics
Ms. Steele
Name: _____________________________________
Date: ______________________ Period: _______
Financial Success in Chutes and Ladders
Financial success is a lot like playing chutes and ladders – most of your progress occurs very
slowly, a few steps at a time. It’s not very exciting, but it is at least predictable. Except
occasionally a major event occurs, one that can dramatically change your financial fortunes – for
better or for worse.
Your task is to create a game of Chutes and Ladders that demonstrates the path to financial
success. Each square needs to have some step on the road towards financial success – the first
three squares are filled in for you as examples. Fill in the rest of the squares with events that
move you forward on the path to financial success. You will want to review all of your notes for
this unit to help you create accurate information in each square. Because true financial success
builds on itself, your board must progress in a logical order – each square will build on the ones
before it.
However, sometimes major life events happen that affect your financial success. You will need to
include a few of these random events on your game board. Positive events are ladders that move
you up on the path; negative events are chutes that move you down on the path. Some events
may be small and only move you a few spaces (“your marginal tax rate changes“), while others
might be major events that move you many spaces (“fall $10,000 into credit card debt”). It is up
to you to decide how much each random event moves you forwards/backwards on the path to
financial success.
Requirements
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Each square must have some financial information on it
At least three ladders (at least one must be a major positive event)
o Your board cannot have a ladder that takes a player immediately to the last square.
A ladder can only take you as far as space #27. From there you’re on your own.
At least three chutes (at least one must be a major negative event)
Every person must make their own unique board. You may consult with other students in
class about their events, but you are responsible for your board. Some events may be
similar, but you must make your own board.
Consider all the notes we’ve taken for this unit
o The benefits of saving
o Simple v. compound interest
o Investment
o Taxes
o Credit and debit
o Insurance
Your board will be graded on the accuracy of financial information in each square, whether
events progress in a logical order, and how realistic the chutes/ladder events are.
Total: ________________/20 points