.jpg?width=300&height=200 "Harrisburg_IMG_0615-(1).jpg")
Students make purchasing decisions and complete a budget-balancing worksheet. Photo courtesy of Harrisburg Academy
How much does it cost to buy groceries, pay rent, and furnish an apartment? Can I splurge on a day at the spa?
These are just a few of the questions that high school students from Harrisburg Academy (PA) asked during the Financial Reality Fair held this past spring. The daylong event, sponsored by Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union (PSECU), offered 100 ninth through 12th grade students real-world financial management and personal budgeting simulation.
Each student received a budgeting worksheet with salary information based on randomly selected careers and levels of education. Then, they visited different booths to learn from PSECU staff, faculty members, and parent volunteers about how to make choices about living expenses—from housing and transportation to insurance. Students visited each booth as many times as needed to balance their budgets.
Last year, PSECU and Harrisburg Academy announced a partnership to support student needs and create financial education opportunities. In addition to offering PSECU membership eligibility for the entire school community—including students, staff, faculty, and families—the partnership will provide Harrisburg Academy with financial education resources, such as the Financial Reality Fair and annual scholarship assistance.
What’s happening at your school? Share your story with us at [email protected].