“Credit for Life Fairs” and “Reality Fairs” are a financial education opportunity for high school students.  In this exercise students spend a semester learning the basics of personal finance.  The semesters’ lesson culminates with students participating in an interactive fair or game in which they are given a salary and must visit vendors to decide what lifestyle choices their budget allows them. Among other things they must decide whether their budget permits them to own a house or if they should rent an apartment. Can they afford a car or is public transport more prudent? At the end of the exercise they sit down with financial advisors who go over their choices and help them understand the repercussions.

Caution with Credit and  Massachusetts State Treasury commends the schools that have instituted these fairs and the cities and towns that have supported such a unique and wonderful concept. Now more than ever, we urge others to follow suit by observing a “Credit for Life/Reality” Fair in action and take the initiative to develop a fair in your city or town. Each of the following communities has being gracious enough to invite you to learn best practices and how to successfully deliver financial education to the students in their community.

If you would like to learn more about a fair near you, please contact The Treasury at  617 367 6900 or email: lmartin@tre.state.ma.us

Now let’s take a look at a “Credit for Life” Fair: