Students learn budgeting skills through Credit for Life Fair in Westfield


WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Students in Westfield got a little dose of adult life Wednesday participating in the high school’s “Credit for Life Fair.” Westfield area students were age 25 for a day and put through the paces of emerging adulthood at the fair, hosted by Westfield High School.

“It’s definitely a lot more. Like there is more to it,” said Westfield Technical Academy student Maya.

Each student picked a profession, was assigned a credit score and tasked with visiting 15 booths around the gymnasium, each an educational opportunity on an aspect of post-education life.

“It’s a budgeting exercise and we’re doing it with seniors because these are the kids that are about to graduate and have these expenses maybe in a few months,” said Edward Nunez, a volunteer with the Springfield Credit For Life program.

Some of those expenses were surprisingly high for student Savanah, “The unforeseen expenses. It could be $50 at the supermarket or $900 because your car got towed.”

“I was very surprised with the student loan debt. I did think it was really going to be that much,” said student Brady.

While the expenses were a revelation, job hunting was an exercise in goal setting. Students selected a career in the area they hope to go after school. Carefully planned finances and dream jobs only get you so far in life… some things you can’t plan for. That’s where the reality check booth comes in.

“We did have someone who landed on a spring break trip so they had to deduct $900 from their balance,” said Kara Wood from Westfield Savings Bank.

“This is not an easy thing to do every month. Managing what you want to do with your money and what you need to do with your money,” said Linda Saltus of Western Massachusetts Credit For Life.

The next local fair is scheduled for April 23 at STCC and needs volunteers ready to walk students through the throws of adulthood, one expense at a time.

22News began broadcasting in March 1953 providing local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Follow WWLP-22News on X @WWLP22News and Facebook.



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