NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. —Heartland Credit Union is bringing their Bite of Reality financial literacy fair to the USD 309 Nickerson-South Hutchinson district on Friday.
"It gives them a taste of what it's like for their parents in the real world, said Stephanie Dreiling, CCUFC, CUDE, AVP of Education and Community Development at Heartland Credit Union. "It allows them to have an occupation, a family, a salary, a credit score, debt, and they have to go through an entire month within our simulation and make sure they can stay within their budget."
The goal is to have them feel some of the pressures families feel each month.
"Our leaders are trained to be in character, so we want them to be pushy and salespeople and truly commission-based feelings when they get to a lot of these merchants, which is more of the real world, you know, people really want to upsell," Dreiling said. "That, oftentimes will blow a budget very quickly. There are unexpected events, as well, so we have a fickle finger of fate that gives students an unexpected expense and a windfall, just like in real life, so they can take more funds out of their budgets or add more to it, as well."
The program can be offered to any school district within Heartland's membership footprint. For more information, contact Dreiling at (620) 888-6506 or email [email protected].
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