Shoe Rush - Decision making

Summary - Comparison shopping

The player is shopping at Dollar Reef’s Moana Mall for a new pair of shoes. On each turn, a card sends the player in search of a different pair of shoes, and gives them a budget. At each shoe shop, the shoe seller displays cards and the player is challenged to find the right shoes at the right price. The player has the choice of seeing “new shoes”, or looking at cards they have already passed on during other trips around the board.

Visit Shoe Rush

Background information – Getting value for money

This game is about decision-making - going to a store and purchasing a pair of shoes within a predetermined budget that matches the stated needs of the player. Impulse buying will be penalized. Unsold shoes are also placed “on sale” by the seller. The player is rewarded for remembering which shoes are on sale and purchasing those during a later trip around the board.

The Learning

Most people have limited income, and therefore have to make decisions from the range of choices available. Wise spending means people should purchase their ‘needs’ before engaging in impulse buying. People also need to shop around to get the best price, and must therefore remember what different shops have in stock and look for items that are ‘on sale’.

Key financial concepts

Our financial responsibility is up to us as individuals

• We need to be wise consumers if we are to make the most of our limited income
• We need to have the income before we can spend it
• The consequences of the financial decisions we make today will affect us in the future
• If we spend our income today, we have less money to spend tomorrow
• Saving today brings us more choices in the future

Curriculum Links

Achievement objectives

Social studies

• Resources and Economic activities; demonstrate knowledge and understandings of how and why people manage resources

English

• Use visual features to communicate information, and ideas using layout; view and use visual texts to gain and present information, become familiar with and use appropriate technologies

Social studies processes

• Social decision making - make decisions about possible social action

Essential skills

Self-management and competitive skills

• Take responsibility for own actions and decisions

Problem solving skills

• Identify, describe, and redefine a problem
• Make connections and establish relationships

Information skills

• Organise, analyse, synthesise, evaluate and use information
• Present information clearly, logically, concisely and accurately

Guided questions for Shoe Rush players

1. If you buy a pair of shoes, and the next day you see something you like better, can you do anything about it?
2. How do you reduce the risk of making the wrong shopping decision?
3. What do you do if you do not have enough money to buy what you want? Give up the purchase, save for it, borrow the money, etc.
4. For you, what are the most important things to consider when buying a pair of shoes?
5. For your caregiver, what are the most important things to consider when buying a pair of shoes?
6. Are you an impulse buyer? If you are, what kinds of things are you likely to buy on impulse?
7. Are you a person who waits for sales – always, sometimes, never?