The Financial Reality Fair
A practical exercise in life through financial education
Overview
Connecticut credit unions recognize the need for financial literacy among Connecticut youth. To assist schools and parents in their efforts, the Connecticut credit union community has banded together to create a Financial Reality Fair experience for high school students.
The Financial Reality Fair is a 2.5-hour (approximate time), hands-on experience in which students, after identifying their career choice and starting salaries, are provided a budget sheet requiring them to live within their monthly salary while paying for basics such as housing, utilities, transportation, clothing, and food.
Of course, there are many temptations for additional spending, and students must learn to balance their wants and needs to live on their own. After they have visited all the booths, students will balance their budget, and then sit down with a financial counselor to review their standing. The Fair is a unique opportunity for each student to experience some of the financial challenges they will face when they start life on their own.
An important component of a responsible financial lifestyle is saving. In the Financial Reality Fair experience, students are encouraged to save a minimum of 10% of their income, placing 3% in a long-term retirement investment, and 7% in a shorter-term investment. The Financial Counselors explore the importance of planning for future needs and preparing for future financial challenges through savings. The Fair will tempt students to spend their income on “fun,” but the Financial Counselors will bring the focus back to saving and thrift practices.
The Financial Reality Fairs are financially supported as a REAL Solutions project, through the Connecticut CU Solutions Foundation. REAL Solutions focuses on identifying products and services for low wealth members to improve their financial lives.
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