Phoenix students get lessons in financial reality

Approximately 100 students participated in a Financial Reality Fair at the Phoenix Academy. The event was sponsored by Texas Trust Credit Union. Students were assigned a vocation or profession and given an annual salary. They visited 11 stations where they had to make decisions about real life purchases such as renting an apartment, buying cable and phone service, insurance, groceries, etc. Each student also spun the Wheel of Reality. ��They had to spin a wheel for unexpected expenses, like a flat tire,�� math teacher Donna Craig said, ��and figure out how to pay for that. The kids said, ��Life is hard!����Some students spun the wheel and received unexpected surprises, such as cash for their birthday. Credit counselors met with students to review their financial decisions. For those that landed in the red, they had to reconsider their purchases and how to live within their budget.More than 100 students participated.