LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Teens Take a Visit to Mad City Money


Lamorinda and Walnut Creek Teens learn about money the fun way. Photo provided

The Acalanes Area and Walnut Creek chapters of National Charity League, Inc. recently sponsored an event called Mad City Money. They partnered with Travis Credit Union to teach basic skills of personal finance to teens in a fun, safe and hands-on simulation.

Each participant was given a career, monthly salary and family situation. They learned about credit scores, how to write and balance a checkbook, with the goal of being able to balance a monthly budget of life essentials. The "catch" was as they visited these life essential booths, such as food, clothing, transportation, travel and mall purchases, volunteers were trying to up-sell them things- just like adults have to face every day with ads, salespeople and promotions.

In the end, when some teens were asked what they learned, the consensus was "live within your means." We could all learn from that!