Credit union reality fair gives students hands-on financial experience

Photo:� Credit union volunteers meet with students during reality fair in Washington. The National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) held a Financial Reality Fair in conjunction with the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) recently held in Washington, DC.� �A Reality Fair is an interactive financial literacy tool for high school students. "The Reality Fair was an eye-opening experience for a lot of these teens," said Tanya Thomson, Art Teacher at Washington Metropolitan High School. "It feels like the students learned a semesters worth of meaningful material in just two hours at the Reality Fair," said Landon Southerly, Math Teacher at Capital City Public Charter School. The fair was held at the Rayburn House Office Building on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 with students from Capital City Public Charter School, Luke Charles Moore Academy, and Washington Metropolitan High School in attendance. Many others stopped by to observe the fair, including Members of Congress and GAC attendees during their "Hike the Hill" visits. "The students learned so much at the Reality Fair," said Vibha Robinson, Business Manager at Luke C. Moore Academy. "I wish I went through this when I was in high school!" The Reality Fair concept is a unique opportunity for students to experience some of the financial challenges they will face when they start life on their own. Its a hands-on experience in which students identify their career choice and starting salaries then complete a budget sheet requiring them to live within their monthly salary while paying for basics such as housing, utilities, transportation, clothing, and food. Additional expenditures such as entertainment and travel are factored in as well. Throughout the fair, there are many temptations for additional spending, and students must learn to balance their wants and needs to live on their own. After the students have visited the various booths covering components of independent living, students balance their budget, and then sit down with a financial counselor for review.