Story Detail
NFCU Foundation Reality Store Covered by FCPS Channel 21
More than 700 students at Chantilly High School learned the importance of saving and spending money wisely when the Northwest Federal Credit Union Foundation (NWFCU Foundation) presented the Reality Store to the senior class of Chantilly High School on October 14, 2009. A Fairfax County Public School Channel 21 television crew was at Chantilly to film the Reality Store for a television feature scheduled to air in November.
The Reality Store, a budget simulation workshop, assigns individuals a future life scenario that includes financial and familial status. Using the life scenario, students create a budget by making choices on expenditures for everyday living expenses, such as housing, transportation and food. Students attending the workshop faced the reality of making real life budgetary choices and the importance of making wise financial decisions. The students were assisted by fifty-six volunteers including NWFCU employees and members, local school teachers and administrators, parents and community volunteers.
“The Reality Store was extremely beneficial for me and really gave me a reality check” said one Chantilly High School Senior. “I learned how important it is to save money, to prioritize needs versus wants and to think realistically about what you can afford depending on your income.” Another student said “I learned a lot about what houses actually cost and how expensive it is to have credit card debt. What I really learned that my parents are amazing!”