Students gain a new appreciation for parents’ budgeting skills
FORT WASHINGTON, PA (December 2, 2019) — More than 150 students from Renaissance Academy Charter School, Phoenixville, participated in a Financial Reality Fair sponsored by TruMark Financial® Credit Union, on Friday, Nov. 22.
Instead of traveling through the gym doing stretching exercises, students attempted to make their salary stretch to pay for fundamentals such as housing, transportation, insurance, and food. Given a budget worksheet complete with a career and net pay, students visited 14 booths and had to make some tough decisions on how they spent their money.
In a society used to making purchases online, it is easy for consumers to lose track of how much is being spent. Community members, employees from UFCW Local 1776 Federal Credit Union and TruMark Financial, and parents manned the booths and guided students as they learned about credit scores and how to manage monthly payments.
Everyone faces unexpected situations, and as part of the exercise students spun the Wheel of Reality which represents the unknown. A spin of the wheel could bring good fortune such as a holiday cash gift or bad fortune such as unexpected car repairs. Following their selections, students met with financial counselors who reviewed their budget worksheets, checked students’ calculations, and provided guidance if students needed to make changes to meet their expenses. These changes might include eliminating a purchase or getting a part-time job.
Students left with a new appreciation for their parents’ skills of budgeting. “This exercise was stressful,” said junior Sophia Harbison Ricciutti. Another student commented, “I used to think my mom was stingy. Now I realize she is generous (with her money).”
About TruMark Financial Credit Union
TruMark Financial is one of the strongest, most progressive credit unions in the nation, offering a full range of banking, investing, and insurance services to more than 140,000 members in Southeastern PA. Founded in 1939, TruMark Financial is headquartered in Fort Washington, PA., and has approximately $3.06 billion in assets through its 24 branches, Call Center, and a suite of innovative online and mobile banking services. To learn more about TruMark Financial, visit www.trumarkonline.org or call 1-877-TRUMARK.
About Renaissance Academy Charter School
Established in 1999, Renaissance Academy is a fully-accredited, K-12, award-winning, tuition-free, college-prep charter school located in Phoenixville, PA. Renaissance Academy was named a top high school on the US News and World Report 2019 Best High Schools’ list. More information on the school can be found at www.rak12.org.
