Reality Fair gives students experience with practical, personal financial management

On Wednesday, April 25, 2018, Tri County Area Federal Credit Union, Diamond Credit Union, Citadel and the Pennsylvania Credit Union Foundation in partnership with guidance counselors, brought a Financial Reality Fair to Owen J Roberts High School! This was the first Financial Reality Fair at the High School. The fair provided about 400 students with experiential learning and a hands-on budgeting experience to gain practical knowledge about personal financial management in a one-day, “real world” environment. Prior to the event, students selected a post-secondary level of education in their social studies class – high school diploma, 2-year/technical degree, bachelors, masters or doctorate degree. Upon entering the event, students received a budget sheet that included their monthly income (after tax deductions) as it related to their selected level of education. Along with higher levels of post-secondary education comes student debt, so students were also assigned the average student debt based upon the level that was selected. Students were then required to visit various booths and select varying packages for rent/mortgage, cell phone plans, internet options, furniture, car buy/lease, credit card debt, etc. Students also had the option of spinning the “Wheel of Reality” which were random life expenses/incomes that could potentially happen (i.e. cracked iPhone screen – needs repair = -$100 OR tax return = +$250). After visiting the required booths, students calculated all of their expenses and met with a financial counselor to review their monthly budget.