Frankenmuth

4 E.F. Rittmueller Middle School 8th grade math students had a dose of reality at a recent Financial Reality Fair provided by the Frankenmuth Credit Union. This active financial learning experience simulates one month of independent adult living where middle school students make hard choices to obtain the goods and services they need and struggle to balance their budgets with the assistance of credit union services. Students are encouraged to set a realistic savings goal at the beginning of the event. They are challenged to meet or exceed their goals throughout the event through careful budgeting. Students visited 12 stations where they made a variety of financial decisions. They kept track of each decision in their budget workbook. With each station visit, students adjusted and balanced their budget. Students visited the following stations: Food, Clothing & Personal Care, Housing, Furniture, Lifestyle, Transportation, EFR Students Get a Dose of Financial Reality Technology, Credit Union/Financial Counselors, Leisure, and Surprise! Visiting the Charity and Part-Time Jobs stations were optional. The FCU Reality Fair offers students a glimpse of everything that goes into budgeting as an adult. This experience provides a deeper understanding of the actual cost of living, allowing them to get a feel for the income they need in the future, to meet the standard of living they desire for themselves. The Financial Reality Fair is an excellent learning tool to present to students before joining the workforce or enrolling in college. The event was a success, as you can read f rom student responses. Thank you to the Frankenmuth Credit Union and the 34 volunteer employees who took time out of their busy schedules to make this event possible for our students.

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