Even grownups often struggle with making ends meet. But a special program for area high schoolers is helping young people hone the financial skills they’ll need in the grownup world.
These Leon High School seniors sound excited and they are (sound of students talking loudly.)
They’re learning how to make it to the end of the month and still have money left over. The event was a Financial Fitness Fair made possible by the First Commerce Credit Union Foundation. Among the students was Kamryn Ferrell.
“I felt like being able to see visually see where your money’s going and how you can budget what’s important and not important. I feel it really gave me a full picture of what my life will be like. So it was really important and I was glad we got to do it.”
Her classmate Mary Grace Parker was also enjoying the crash course in financial fitness.
“I learned that I should have a lot more respect for my parents! I was very shocked by how difficult it is to keep a budget, even when we planned ahead. So I learned that finances will creep up on you and if you’re not setting aside savings, you’ll be in the negatives and not set up for success.”
Various credit union people sat in with the kids during the session, including First Commerce CEO Cecilia Homison who had lots of good advice.
“As I keep telling them, you protect your credit, you pay yourself. You let your credit get away from you, you’re paying somebody else.”
The credit union regularly hosts financial fitness fairs for the region’s high school seniors. It also has a partnership with the area’s Boys and Girls clubs.
