Harrisburg, PA (March 11, 2020) – On March 18, students from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology will participate in a hands-on financial management and personal budgeting Financial Reality Fair. Sponsored by PSECU, Pennsylvania’s anytime, anywhere digital credit union, the free financial education event will be held in the gym area of the Multipurpose Activity Center (MAC) building from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“At PSECU, we know how important it is for everyone – and especially young adults – to have good money management skills,” said PSECU President and CEO George Rudolph. “The Financial Reality Fair at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology will encourage students to think about aspects of personal finance, like paying for an apartment, buying clothes, or adopting a pet, all while maintaining a balanced budget. It’s a great practice activity because if they make a mistake in the simulation, they get a ‘do-over’ that they won’t get in real life.”

With the help of volunteers from PSECU and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, the Financial Reality Fair is designed to be a highly interactive experience for student participants. Students receive a budgeting worksheet with salary information based on intended career and level of education. They then visit a series of booths to learn about and make choices pertaining to living expenses, from entertainment to insurance. To end the activity with a balanced budget, students are encouraged to revisit each booth as many times as needed.

PSECU-sponsored Financial Reality Fairs have been offered to students throughout the commonwealth since 2017. Based on post-Fair participant surveys, the events have been well-received, earning high marks from students. In the survey, they were asked about skills they acquired, thoroughness and clarity of information provided, and likelihood of event recommendation to peers. The survey results were overwhelmingly positive with each question receiving an average score of 4.6 or higher out of a maximum score of 5.

“Students look forward to the day they enter the workforce to start their post-graduation life. When they do, we want them to be better prepared to take on the challenge of how to make the most of their hard-earned money,” said PSECU Consumer Education Strategist Sara Weiser. “We hope that by taking part in our Financial Reality Fair, they’ll gain the money management skills they need to have a bright financial future.”

When registering for the Financial Reality Fair, each Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology student will also be provided with a giveaway toolkit of resources and financial education materials to help them as they continue working toward financial success.

About PSECU
Opened in 1934, PSECU was founded by 22 ordinary people who pooled $90 and made an extraordinary commitment to each other: To create a financial institution where collective resources benefit all members. Today, PSECU continues that legacy as a leading full-service credit union managing more than $6 billion in assets and offering its over 450,000 members convenient anytime, anywhere digital banking options. PSECU was named a 2019 Best-In-State Credit Union by Forbes Magazine and a Best Credit Union of 2020 by GOBankingRates. For more information about PSECU, visit psecu.com. View its Year In Review to learn how PSECU contributes to the greater good.