Lesson plan · Money After High School · Lesson 5
Renting Your First Place
Leases, deposits, roommates, and renters insurance.
- 45 minutes
- Grades 9–12
- Beginner
- Activity: small groups
Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Apply the 30% rent guideline and the 3×-rent income rule
- Estimate move-in costs
- Identify key lease terms and the purpose of renters insurance
Materials
- Slide deck and a projector
- Worksheet (one per student)
- Budget Calculator (projected, or on student devices)
- Exit ticket slips (bottom of the worksheet)
Key vocabulary
- Lease
- A legal contract covering rent, due dates, late fees, length, pets, guests, repairs, and what happens if you move out early. Read all of it before you sign.
45-minute agenda
- 0–5 min
Warm-up
Post: “Besides rent, what costs do you think come with moving into your first apartment?”
Teacher note: Security deposit, application fees, first month's rent, utilities setup, furniture, moving, and renters insurance.
- 5–12 min
Direct instruction
Present the lesson slides. Make sure students leave with these points:
- Rent ≤ ~30% of gross income; landlords often want 3× rent.
- Move-in costs can be 2–3 months of rent.
- Read the whole lease.
- Document move-in condition with photos.
- Renters insurance protects your belongings.
Use the “See it” slide (Move-in costs for a $1,100/month apartment) to make the idea visual.
- 12–17 min
Worked example
Walk through “Can Tasha afford it?” on the slides. Pause before the result and ask students to predict it.
- 17–22 min
Live demo
Project does the rent fit? from the slides or the Budget Calculator. Change one input at a time and have students call out what they think will happen.
- 22–34 min
Can We Afford It?
Format: small groups · 12 minutes
- Two roommates will split a $1,500-a-month apartment. Each earns $2,600 a month before taxes.
- Groups check each roommate's share against the 30%-of-gross guideline and the pair against a landlord's 3×-rent rule.
- Groups estimate move-in cash: first month's rent, a one-month security deposit, $50 application fee each, and $200 for moving.
- Groups list three things to check in the lease before signing.
What to look for: Each pays $750, under 30% of $2,600 ($780). Combined income $5,200 meets 3× rent ($4,500). Move-in: $1,500 + $1,500 + $100 + $200 = $3,300 ($1,650 each).
- 34–39 min
Check for understanding
Use the question slides — or run them as a Four Corners game. Answers:
- What monthly income do you need? — B. $2,700
- What's the best way to protect your security deposit on move-in day? — A. Photograph and document every existing problem, and send a copy to the landlord
- Your landlord's insurance covers your belongings if they're stolen. — False
- 39–42 min
Discussion
- What would you want in a roommate agreement before signing a lease together?
- Is the 30% rule realistic where you live? What would you do if it isn't?
- 42–45 min
Exit ticket
Prompt: Why should you take photos when you move in?
Answer: To document the apartment's condition so you aren't charged for damage you didn't cause when you move out.
Differentiation
Common misconception
“The landlord's insurance covers my stuff.” It usually covers the building, not your belongings — that's renters insurance.
Support
Provide a move-in cost checklist with blanks.
Extension
Find a real apartment listing near you and calculate the income needed under the 3× rule and the full move-in cost.
Homework or make-up work
Students can complete the full interactive lesson — including its knowledge check — at learnwithflc.org/courses/money-after-high-school/renting. No account needed; progress saves on their device.