Clinton, MI - Central Macomb Community Credit Union staff visited LAnse Creuse High School earlier this month to conduct a real-world budgeting simulation with students.
The exercise, called Mad City Money, was created by the Credit Union National Association to teach young adults budgeting and presented at the Harrison Township school Jan. 8.
Students were given a new identity complete with occupation, salary, spouse, student loan debt, credit card debt, and medical insurance payments. They used a budget worksheet to walk them through nine stations as they purchased housing, transportation, food, clothing, household necessities, day care, and other needs. They even had to visit the credit union to pay their credit card bill or put money into a savings account.
Central Macomb offers the budgeting simulation to Macomb County high schools at the beginning of the school year and has already visited Richmond High School, Henry Ford II High School and Fraser High School, educating over 350 teens on the importance of budgeting.
"This group was extremely conservative," said Phil Modzelewski, senior real estate lending manager. "I couldnt get them to buy a big house, many chose the apartment."
"The students were really smart. They didnt come to my station until they had purchased their needs," she said.
The program continued this week at Faith Christian School in Clinton Township Wednesday.
