STRATFORD, CT – Sikorsky Credit Union takes a leadership role in promoting financial literacy to Connecticut high school students through their coordination of financial reality fairs.

Sikorsky Credit Union organized financial reality fairs for the students of Abbott Tech High School, Bunnell High School, Seymour High School, Stratford High School, and Shelton High School to give students the unique opportunity to get a glimpse of how their financial future may look.

Students get to choose a profession with an assigned entry-level salary and are given a chance to visit several expense tables where they can spend their “hard-earned money.” They’re required to allocate money towards housing, transportation, food, and utilities, but also have the opportunity to make some lifestyle purchases such as concert tickets, vacations, and electronics. Students are asked to spin the “Wheel of Reality” which features many circumstances that people may find themselves dealing with in real life. Depending on their result, they may find themselves acquiring or owing money.

After completing their purchases, students meet with volunteer financial counselors to go over their decisions and see how they were able to manage their budget. This hands-on activity helps students to understand what exactly goes into maintaining the lifestyle they may see for themselves and look at what financial challenges may lie ahead.

Sikorsky Credit Union was founded in 1948 and is open to everyone who lives, works, or worships in Fairfield, Hartford, or New Haven counties, with 10 branches located in Bridgeport, Brookfield, Danbury, Milford, Seymour, Shelton, Stratford, and Trumbull.  Bank with Sikorsky Credit Union in person, online, or on the go with our mobile banking app. Deposits are insured by the National Credit Union Administration, an agency of the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit our website www.sikorskycu.org.