Souhegan High School Students Get Hands-On Lesson In Spending & Budgeting

Bellwether Community Credit Union delivers program to 237 students

MANCHESTER, NH – Souhegan High School students concluded a semester of money management education today at the CU 4 Reality™ Financial Fair. In preparation for the fair, students created monthly spending plans and calculated take home pay based on a career of their choice. Throughout the day, Bellwether Community Credit Union staff and local merchants helped students learn how to live within their means and make smart financial decisions as they visited booths that represented real life scenarios. The program was sponsored by Bellwether Community Credit Union and America’s Credit Union Museum.

The CU 4 Reality™ program brings parents, educators and credit unions together to build a financial management foundation for students. Developed and funded by New Hampshire credit unions, the program familiarized and taught Souhegan High School students personal money management skills by combining direct instruction with interactive activities that reflected the adult world of personal and family finances. Lesson plans and classroom activities focused on career exploration, checkbook management, savings and investments.

Lessons learned in the classroom were then brought to life at the CU 4 Reality™ Financial Fair. Students selected housing, utilities, transportation, insurance and other life necessities. They were also exposed to temptations and unexpected financial setbacks. At the last stop, Bellwether Community Credit Union counselors met with participants and suggested ways to reduce expenses or increase income.  

Claire Castanino, Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of Bellwether Community Credit Union, explained that the CU 4 Reality™ program prepares students for the financial challenges and lifestyle decisions they’ll face as young adults. “Choices made by teenagers in their first years of independence can have a tremendous impact on their finances for years to follow,” stated Castanino. “By participating in this program, they experience the consequences associated with poor decisions and develop an understanding of personal financial responsibility. Students also learn money management skills and practices that will lead them to their own financial success.”

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The CU 4 Reality™ program was developed by the Financial Literacy Education Committee and the New Hampshire Credit Union League. Since 2007, over 15,000 students have participated in the program.

Bellwether Community Credit Union will also participate in a CU 4 Reality™ Financial Fair on May 7th at McLaughlin Middle School in Manchester.

About Bellwether Community Credit Union

Bellwether Community Credit Union offers financial services to consumers who reside or work, and businesses that operate, in New Hampshire.  As a not-for-profit credit union, Bellwether focuses on returning value back to members through attractive rates and low fees; local, personal service; and services, delivery channels and processes that make members lives easier.  Members can access their accounts at more than 28,000 free ATMs nationwide and approximately 6700 CU Service Centers around the world. Bellwether Community Credit Union has branch locations in Bedford, Manchester and Nashua.  For more information about Bellwether Community Credit Union, visit BCCU.org.

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