Apple Valley, MINN. - Students from the New Country School in Henderson Minnesota recently participated in a Mad City Money reality fair hosted at their school and sponsored by United Educators Credit Union. Alongside credit union representatives and teachers, students navigated through various life milestone stations meant to educate them about the importance of fiscal responsibility.
At the fair, each student received a folder assigning them a career and income, providing family information (like a spouse and children), and a budget worksheet to guide them through the different life milestone stations. Based on their income, students navigate buying or renting housing, how much to spend at the grocery store, whether to purchase a car or take public transport, paying utilities, and other bills. Occasionally, they had to spin the Wheel of Fate and were dealt an unexpected expense or windfall – now that’s real life!
Even with a stable income, the students found the cost of things to be very eye opening! “Does daycare really cost $900 a month?” Said one student. Another student said, “I can’t believe groceries would cost $500!”
“New Country School is a project-based learning environment that gives students real life experiences so that they have the tools to live successfully on their own,” said teacher Nick Ryan. “Mad City Money was a great experience for students to learn how to budget and spend within their means.”
The day was capped off with a presentation on Identity Theft by LSS Debt Counseling which focused on how teens can be affected by identity theft and what to look out for on your credit report.
United Educators Credit Union was established in 1957 and is a member-owned, member-operated, not-for-profit financial institution. UECU provides financial services to the Minnesota education community and their families, those who go to school, live, work, or worship in Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota or Washington Counties, and those who support education by being a part of the United Educators Foundation. UECU offers a full line of financial services, and currently operates branch locations in Apple Valley, Coon Rapids, Minnetonka, and Woodbury.