[iPhone God App] It was found using the Budget Challenge actually

Overview:
Budget Challenge recreates the experience of managing a typical household budget in real-time, using real-world tools, all while operating in a safe environment. The competition-style, bill-pay program scores students daily while a ‘learning by doing’ approach integrated with modern technology builds 21st Century skills. Budget Challenge uses patented simulation technology to create an engaging learning platform that also allows teachers/parents to interject their expertise while mentoring their students through the game. The Individual version is the same program offered in schools. The only difference is added security to hide real names and identities from fellow competitors.

Basic idea and why we are different:

Young people’s wallets and credit scores get battered every day learning how to manage money. All-time high fees and increasing complexity has made the trial-and-error method very expensive and dangerous when you consider credit scores and changing bankruptcy laws.

Sure there are lots of financial literacy products available, but they are all similar to the written test that is needed to get your driver’s license. They cover concepts and theory, but lack the actual practice and application of the curriculum. Budget Challenge is the first and only road test for personal finance. We show young people how to actually take the wheel and manage money as they would in the real world.

We have included direct deposit, online bill pay, 401K savings, paychecks and reoccurring bills, all in real time. It’s the financial equivalent of seeing cars whiz past as you enter your first freeway. We have also included standards-aligned quizzes and many of the fees, tricks, and gotchas that one typically learns about the hard way.

Our 9-16 week simulation is long enough to include multiple billing cycles so participants can build confidence, habits and skill. We have also made this a competition to keep it engaging and fun.

Here's how it works:

All students receive bi-weekly paychecks and bills for rent, auto loan, cell phone, gas/electric, cable, auto insurance, renter's insurance, student loan, and credit card over the course of the simulation.

Through their BC account, students access online bill-pay, statements, and account activity for all of the faux vendors on our website 24x7. They can even submit customer service inquiries to the vendors online, to request further assistance, to resolve billing issues, or to request fee waivers.

Through the score, we reward fiscally responsible behaviors by encouraging on-time payments, savings for retirement, and avoidance of fees. Establishing that balance of attention between short term financial commitments (bills) and long-term needs (saving for retirement into a 401K) is the key to doing well in this game.

Achievements:
* In this academic year alone, we have served about 4,000 students in 32 states.
* We have one issued patent on our invention and just got notice that our second patent is being issued.
* We have been selected to speak on our program at the 2014 National Council for Economic Education (NCEE) in Dallas and the 2014 Maryland CEE.
*We were also chosen to speak at the 2014 National Council for Social Studies (NCSS) convention in Boston.