Scenario:
Carlos, Nuno, Tyshawn, Thomas, and Amir are all obsessed with the latest new jeans on the scene at their college in Boston. These stylish jeans are from Total Vantage, which just opened two stores near Boston a few months ago. Unfortunately, the starting price for a pair of designer jeans is generally around $180, and hoodies sell for at least $150.
Carlos, Tyshawn, and Amir all have part-time jobs. Thomas’ job ended just prior to the start of the school year. He has been looking for a new part-time job since the end of the soccer season, since he thought it best not to work during the season. Nuno has no job and is not looking for one. They all share an off-campus apartment, which rents for $1,500 a month. They all have phones, for which each of them pays between $60 and $70 month. Their cable TV costs $100 a month. They also have to either buy their own groceries, order takeout, or eat out.
They all agree that these are the jeans to have, and that they would like to get a pair right away. Christmas is in seven weeks, and if they can’t get them now, they’d like to return to school after Christmas with a pair of Total Vantage jeans. Especially since they know this is a time of year when “everybody” will be wearing their new, stylish clothes.
- Carlos and Tyshawn earn about $500 a month from their work/study jobs on campus.
- Amir works off-campus at a national chain pharmacy and makes about $475 a month.
- Thomas has about $1,500 in his savings account that he earned from his summer job.
- Nuno has about $500 in his savings account. He can usually count on his mother sending him money whenever he asks. She also paid his portion of the rent for the semester and pays his monthly phone bill.
Quiz:
