Reality Fairs: Interactive Teen Financial Literacy Tool

A Reality Fair (or “Financial Reality Fair”) is an interactive financial literacy tool for high school students. The Reality Fair concept is a unique opportunity for students to experience some of the financial challenges they will face when they start life on their own. It’s a hands-on experience in which students identify their career choice and starting salaries then complete a budget sheet requiring them to live within their monthly salary while paying for basics such as housing, utilities, transportation, clothing, and food. Additional expenditures such as entertainment and travel are factored in as well.

Throughout the fair, there are many temptations for additional spending, and students must learn to balance their wants and needs to live on their own. After the students have visited the various booths covering components of independent living, students balance their budget, and then sit down with a financial counselor for review. 

The Foundation encourages state leagues and foundations to support state-wide coordinated programs which increases the number of students that have access to this experience and the number of credit unions who can provide support. Today, 26 states are offering students Reality Fair Programs – 14 of which can be tied directly to the Foundation. In 2016, over 85,000 estimated high school students participated in a credit union Reality Fair.

• Pages 32-34 of the Resource Guide for "Credit Unions: Focused on Financial Capability Across the Nation"
• Reality Fair Information (Credit Union League of Connecticut)
• CU 4 Reality (America’s Credit Union Museum)
• Credit For Life Fair (HarberOne Credit Union) – Video | PowerPoint
• Murmurings Podcast #11 - Financial Reality Fairs
• News: CFPB Director Cordray Visits CU Reality Fair
• News: Foundation’s Hyland Testified at Financial Literacy & Education Commission Meeting