Patrick McGarrity hopes that by interactively teaching students what it is like to live in the real world, they can avoid the troubles he endured.

He will discuss topics such as money and life in general, important issues to students, by covering everything from moving out on their own to 401 K plans in his lecture entitled “Big Life.”

McGarrity utilizes scenarios, stories and an interactive, multimedia game show instead of simply talking to get his point across to the audience.

He is the author of “What I Wish My Parents Had Told Me,” a book that focuses on the financial troubles he endured in college and his first years in the real world.

At first, he responsibly saved his money, then he began to rely on credit cards to pay for everything, as described in his book, he said.

Instead of asking for his family’s help, he decided to work several odd jobs to pay off his debt.

He hopes that through his book and presentations, he can help students avoid the pitfalls he experienced, he said.

In one interactive part of his presentation, McGarrity will introduce a money machine and demonstrate how it works.

The demonstration willbe from 5 to 5:30 tonight in front of the food court of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Students with tickets will step into the machine for 15-30 seconds and get the opportunity to take home up to $500, said Melissa Ortiz, University Board lectures coordinator.

UB is sponsoring this educational presentation, which is designed for graduating seniors but is open to all students.

Tickets for the money machine demonstration are available for free at the door before the event starts.

The “Big Life” lecture is at 7 p.m. tonight in the Grand Ballroom.