Lisbon students attend Financial Fitness Fair

LISBON – Students had a opportunity to participate this spring in a unique out of the classroom learning experience on sound financial planning and investment strategies.

Freshman through senior members of the Lisbon High School young adult volunteer group and their peers at the Gartley Street Program, along with students from other area high schools, attended a session on money management at the Financial Fitness Fair in Lewiston.

The intense 2 1/2-hour event sponsored by Maine’s Credit Unions invited students to engage in real-life scenarios into the future at age 22. Students were provided with current market values of expenses and income levels at the specific jobs of interest according to their personal participant profile. Members of the area credit unions provided portfolios equipped with calculators, fact sheets, charts and spreadsheets for students to prepare their own monthly/annual budgets based on their lifestyle choices.

Credit Union coaches guided students through the budgeting process and planning of major expenses associated with the basics in life including housing, food, transportation, education, clothing, investments, insurance, entertainment, home furnishings, cell phones and credit applications.

Students attending the program were Kristianna Benoit, Paula Caron, Jenna Clifford, Annalise Ciccareli, Meghan Craig, Sarah Craig, Sierra Crosby, Samantha Foote, Sarah Giraldo, Mercedes Hursh, Brandon Laurelez, Branden Murray, Kody Priddle, Kyle Priddle, Brandon Proctor, Abigail Roy, Jared Scipione, Taylor Stevens, Joshua Thompson, David Torres, Molly Watson and Emma Wilson.