Simulation

Maya's Year | Simulation | CambridgeOCR Level 3 Award in Personal Finance

Last updated 5 Aug 2026

Try this mini personal finance simulation activity to help deliver the CambridgeOCR Level 3 Award in Personal Finance.

Maya's Year is a free interactive budgeting simulation that finally makes budgeting feel real. Students help seventeen-year-old Maya save for something she wants after exams, guiding her through twelve months of income, bills and curveballs, a surprise cost here, a night out there, a chance to earn on Vinted. Every choice sorts into essential or discretionary, and the running balance responds. When money gets tight she can lean on family, but that comes with a conversation, not a free top-up. The big lesson lands gently: small, repeated leaks sink a plan faster than any single disaster.

Play Maya's Year simulation here

Download the Teacher Guide to May's Year here

Sign in to download

or create a free account

Share this content: