FOR ANTIGO TIMES

Recently, sixty-five Antigo High School students had the opportunity to learn about spending, prioritizing, and budgeting at a FITMoney Reality Fair. CoVantage partnered with the Antigo High School Guidance office to help students choose and research their future careers as well as other information needed to create a family profile for the fair.

The two-hour hands-on simulation gave teens a taste of the real world – complete with credit score, salary, spouse, student loan debt, credit card debt, and insurance payments. Teens were given a family then moved about the different stations to purchase housing, transportation, food, clothing, household necessities, day care, and other needs. The final goal of the program is to have a checking account balance that is $0 or above, funds in a savings account, and all necessities paid for without relying on credit.

According to Antigo Branch Manager, Katie Devore, “Reality Fairs provide a safe environment for students to make classic budgeting mistakes without real-life consequences. Understanding wants vs. needs and opportunity cost can be hard for adults, much less high school students. This event demonstrated the importance of having a spending plan and flexing it to you and your family’s needs.”

Representatives from CoVantage, Parson’s, McCormick Klessig, Integrity Realtors, City of Antigo, the Langlade County Boys & Girls Club, United Way of Langlade County, and high school staff also volunteered for this event. Each volunteer helped participants purchase necessities or handed them a twist of fate that could make or break their spending plan.

The FITMoney program consists of youth and adult financial literacy presentations and materials including the FITMoney Reality Fair. If you are interested in a presentation at your school, organization, or business, call 800-398-2667 ext. 2469 or visit www.covantagecu.org.

Antigo Reality Fair at Antigo High School