At the Credit for Life Fair, HHS seniors got a taste of the financial decisions — and pitfalls — they will face as adults. After choosing a profession, students were required to visit 15 booths to calculate how much they might spend on everything from rent and insurance to cable and groceries. Students also had to decide how they would pay for it all. After making their choices, students met with a credit counselor to determine whether their budget was sound or left them with a pile of debt. Students who ended with a negative balance had to rethink their choices and try again.
Organized by HHS teachers Stacey Pereira and Brian Ciccolo, the goal of the March 29th event was to expose students to what life will be like after they leave college — and the protective cocoon provided by their parents. The fair encourages students to think about financial goals, weigh needs versus wants, track spending and limit debt, all important factors which will determine whether they will be able to thrive as independent young adults. Many 18- to 34-year-olds struggle with this; in 2015, 34 percent of them still lived at home.
The fair was sponsored by Coastal Heritage Bank, PAR Advisory Group, MA Financial Education Innovation Fund, South Shore Business Checks & Printing, and Winbrook. Many volunteers from the community and school district also supported the event. The keynote speaker was Michelle Kelly, CEO and President of Xpressman Trucking & Courier, who shared her experiences of running a business.
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