Spend on what you want or must, but don't Bust! An important message learned!
Last Wednesday, Sunrisers assisted Redwood Credit Union in putting on a financial education event for Elsie Allen High School seniors. During the two-hour event each senior was given through a phone app, a career, monthly income, life partner, partner’s career path and different numbers of children. Once they digested their new selves, the visited eight tables each of which had volunteers ready and eager to upsell them on all the best things in life- nice housing, furnishings, a fast car, fine dining, entertainment, clothing, groceries and childcare- just like in real life. If the cost of their purchases exceeded their income, they “busted” and had to visit the RCU table for budget counseling and learning about the difference between what we would like to have and what we need and can afford to have. The app also threw financial curveballs (“You missed a credit card payment- see your banker”) onto some people’s apps just to mix it up. A roving RCU Fraud Manager made outlandish offers to students to see if she could get them to fall for common scams. Many did but, as in real life, on a couple owned up to it at the recap session when the event concluded. There were many “aha” moments for both the students and the volunteer salespeople. Oh, and there were (only) three rules to keep in mind- no returning of children, no putting children up for adoption and no abandoning of children. Sunrisers agreed that most students asked a lot of intelligent questions and were very engaged with the exercise. Assisting in the event were Willie, Steve (Herron), Bonny (and David), Kristine, Eloise, Merle, Mary, Steve (Zwick), Paul, Ken and Tom.
(Sorry, no pictures of kids interacting with Sunrisers due to privacy rules).
