Late Night Servo Run

Money & Budget

Student's Starting Budget: $47 remaining at start of shift

Realistic Australian Convenience Store Prices:

Energy drink (Monster/V-Energy): $4.50–$6.50
Hot pie/sausage roll: $3.00–$5.50
Discounted meal (yellow sticker): $2.50–$4.50
Paracetamol/pain relief: $4.00–$8.00
Water bottle: $2.50–$4.00
Snack item (gum/chockies): $1.50–$3.00
Phone charger (cheap): $15–$25
Fast charger: $25–$40
Shopping bag (if charged): $0.15–$0.50

Smart Spending Goal: Student should spend $15–$25 maximum to leave enough for transport home and emergencies.

Why Money Matters: Tired students make emotional purchases. The convenience store uses speed and pressure to trigger impulse buys. Every dollar wasted is money that can't be saved or used for actual needs.

Teacher Roleplay Guide

Situation	Realistic Problem To Set Up	Student Key Info	Teacher Acting Line
Energy drink temptation	The student has just finished a late shift and picks up one energy drink. The cashier points to a promotion and encourages them to buy two.	Budget alert: One energy drink ($4.50–$6.50), not two. The deal is only smart if you actually need it.	Say as cashier: "These are two for eight bucks, mate. You're better off grabbing another one if you've had a big shift." If student hesitates: "Most people take the deal. It'll save you coming back later."
Cheap hot food temptation	The student smells hot pies near the counter and has skipped dinner, but they already spent money on convenience food this week.	Smart choice: Discount meal ($2.50–$4.50) + water ($2.50–$4.00) = filling, cheap, smart. Leaves $30+ for emergencies.	Say as cashier: "Fresh pies just came out, mate. Still hot. Want me to chuck one in for you?" If student says no: "You sure? Long night on an empty stomach is rough."
Food expires tomorrow	The student sees several discounted meals with yellow stickers, but the food expires tomorrow and they may not finish it all.	Reality check: Yellow stickers = cheap + filling, BUT only if you eat by tomorrow. Question: "Can I realistically eat this?" Avoid waste.	Say as staff: "These meals are reduced to clear, pretty cheap tonight. You could grab a couple for tomorrow." If student worries about expiry: "Yeah, they expire tomorrow, but they're fine if you eat them quick."
Unexpected medicine purchase	The student feels sick after work and wants paracetamol 500mg for a headache and sore throat. The label says 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours, maximum 8 tablets in 24 hours. They must not take it with other cold and flu medicine that also contains paracetamol.	Budget + safety: Medicine is essential, cost $4–$8. Ask staff about dose & interactions. Don't guess with medicine. Never mix paracetamol products.	Say as staff: "This is paracetamol 500mg. Adults usually take one or two tablets every 4 to 6 hours, but don't take more than 8 in 24 hours. We also have cold and flu tablets if you want something stronger, but don't double up on paracetamol."
Fast cashier English	The line is long, the cashier speaks quickly, and the student hears several questions at once before they are ready.	Money saver: Cashier asks: "Any chockies, gum, or water?" Practice now: Say "No thanks." This alone saves $1.50–$3.00.	Say quickly: "How ya going, mate? Need a bag? Any chockies, gum, or water with that? Card or cash?" Then repeat at learner speed if needed.
Wrong item scanned twice	The total seems higher than expected. The student notices one snack may have scanned twice but feels nervous about speaking up.	Protect your budget: Always check receipt before leaving. Mistakes happen. Politely say: "Sorry, looks like that scanned twice?"	Say as cashier: "That'll be $18.90. Did you wanna add a bag or a water for the train?" Then, if student checks the total, show that one item scanned twice.
Card declined	The student taps their card, the machine beeps, and the cashier says the payment did not work while other customers are waiting.	Stay calm: Card decline happens. Don't panic or apologize excessively. Try again or use another payment method. Keep moving.	Say as cashier: "Sorry, it didn't go through. No dramas, wanna try again? Or you can tap another card if you've got one."
Wallet missing	The student reaches for their wallet at the counter and cannot find it. They may need transport money and are starting to panic.	Survival mode: Separate emotion from action. Explain the problem clearly to staff. Check pockets, ask staff to hold items. Think: "Can I pay another way?"	Say as staff: "You alright, mate? Take a sec. Check your pockets and bag first." If they panic: "No stress, we can hold the stuff here for a minute."
Phone battery almost dead	The student's phone is almost flat, they need maps or a transport app, and the only charger nearby looks expensive.	Smart skip: Charger ($15–$40) is expensive here. Free charging at train stations. Ask for directions instead or use maps now before battery dies.	Say as staff: "Your battery's cooked? We've got chargers near the counter. The cheap one's twenty, but this fast charger is better if you need maps tonight."
Train arriving soon	The student needs to pay and leave quickly because the last useful train is coming soon, but they still need to check their items.	Time crunch priority: Pay, check receipt, grab bag, leave. Even rushing, don't skip the receipt check. Rushing creates expensive mistakes.	Say as cashier: "You'll wanna head off soon. Last train's not far away. Want a bag so you can carry it quicker?"

After Scenario Questions

Situation	Question To Ask Students	Teacher Listening For	Follow-up Point
Energy drink temptation	Is this a real saving or a temptation?	Students notice that buying more is not saving money if they do not need it.	Connect deals and promotions to emotional spending.
Cheap hot food temptation	How can you say no politely?	Students refuse the offer clearly without sounding rude.	Point out that polite refusal is a useful survival skill.
Food expires tomorrow	How many can you really use?	Students think about expiry, quantity, and waste.	Explain that discounted food can still waste money.
Unexpected medicine purchase	What medicine details must you check before leaving?	Students ask about dose, how often to take it, maximum daily amount, whether it can be mixed with other medicine, and when to see a doctor.	Make students repeat: "1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours, maximum 8 tablets in 24 hours." Remind them not to guess with medicine.
Fast cashier English	What words did you understand first?	Students identify key words like bag, card, cash, and mate.	Remind them they do not need to understand every word to respond well.
Wrong item scanned twice	How can you correct a mistake without sounding angry?	Students use a polite checking phrase instead of staying silent.	Reinforce that checking a receipt is normal, not rude.
Card declined	What can you say without panicking?	Students choose a calm response instead of freezing or apologising too much.	Practise keeping voice and body language steady.
Wallet missing	What information should you give first?	Students explain the problem simply before asking for help.	Separate emotion from the practical next step.
Phone battery almost dead	How do you avoid overspending in an emergency?	Students ask for the cheapest useful option and avoid panic buying.	Connect this to preparation before work shifts.
Train arriving soon	What is your priority when time is short?	Students choose paying, checking essentials, and leaving on time.	Discuss how rushing creates small but expensive mistakes.

Aussie Slang Lines To Act Out

Use these lines naturally during the roleplay. Say them at normal speed first, then repeat slower if the student asks.

Energy Drink Deal

"These are two for eight bucks, mate. Wanna grab another one?"

Push line: "You're better off with the deal if you're working late again tomorrow."

Hot Food Offer

"Fresh pies just came out. Still hot if you're keen."

Push line: "You sure? It's a long trip home on an empty stomach."

Discount Food

"This one's reduced to clear, but you'll wanna eat it by tomorrow."

Push line: "Could be good for lunch tomorrow if you grab two."

Medicine Help

"No worries, I'll run you through it. Don't double up with cold and flu tablets."

Push line: "We do have stronger cold and flu ones, but check the ingredients first."

Fast Checkout

"How ya going? Need a bag, mate? Card or cash?"

Push line: "Any chockies, gum, or water with that?"

Scanned Twice

"Yeah, good catch. Looks like that one scanned twice."

Push line before correction: "Did you wanna add a bag or a water for the train?"

Card Declined

"Sorry, it didn't go through. No dramas, wanna try again?"

Push line: "You can tap another card if you've got one."

Wallet Missing

"You alright, mate? Take a sec and check your bag."

Support line: "No stress, we can hold the stuff here for a minute."

Phone Battery

"Your battery's cooked? Chargers are near the counter."

Push line: "The fast charger costs more, but it'll sort you out quicker."

Train Pressure

"You'll wanna head off soon. Last train's not far away."

Push line: "Want a bag so you can carry it quicker?"

Teacher Survival Guide

Teaching Objectives