Pathfinder Regional Vocational – Technical High School District 240 SYKES STEET, PALMER, MA 01069-1200 TEL. NO. (413)283-9701 FAX (413) 284-0032

What exactly is Credit for Life? No, we’re not giving students credit cards!

Credit for Life is a financial literacy fair sponsored by Country Bank that prepares high school seniors to make decisions on how to spend their money to live life! Every student will role-play a 25-year old adult with a career, a salary, and a credit score. Each senior is assigned a mock checking and savings account (and possibly a student loan payment depending on the career choice they selected). They will have to visit booths set up around to fair to make a series of financial decisions and will quickly learn how one choice can greatly impact another. Based on their mock salary, they must make choices that affect their daily living and finances--such as renting an apartment on their own or having a roommate, buying or leasing a vehicle, purchasing furniture, and saving for retirement. The goal is for students to have a better understanding of their future fiscal responsibilities by teaching them about balancing a budget and about making good decisions about their finances.  

One of the most important booths at Credit for Life is the credit score booth. This booth is used to educate the students about credit scores and how their future could be impacted with a low, med, or high credit score. Students are given a completely random credit score at the very beginning of the fair which will greatly affect their experience. At the end of the event, credit counselors will review each student’s final budget one-on-one to ensure solvency or to help students learn how to live within their means. Managing their own budget and seeing the actual cost of things will leave students with a whole new perspective on real-life financial management! If you would like more information on the Credit for Life Fair, please contact Jodie Gerulaitis, VP of Community Relations at Country Bank at (413) 277-2024.

This event is free to students. They will be bused from Pathfinder and will return in time for school lunch.

If you have any questions or concerns about your senior attending Credit for Life please call the Pathfinder Guidance Office to speak with your son/daughter’s

counselor.

ALL PATHFINDER

SENIORSTHURSDAY,

APRIL 5, 2018@ Ware High School