Keep It Real: Navigating Finances with a Bite of Reality

In a world where financial verbiage can seem like a foreign language, it is more important than ever to break down the barriers to understanding money management. During the 2023-2024 academic year, ēCO presented to over 2000 high school seniors in 11 different schools.  This presentation included different aspects of financial education for seniors in high school. Our mission is to continue to empower individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate their financial journey confidently. Financial literacy is the foundation of your relationship with money. It is about understanding how money works in the real world, how to manage it, save it, and invest it. But why is it so crucial? Because financial literacy is not just about affording the life you want; it is about creating it.  Here is how we do it:
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• The 'Keep It Real' Approach

Our "Keep It Real" approach is about stripping away the complexity and delivering financial education in a language that everyone can understand. From balancing a budget to understanding interest rates, we are here to provide practical advice that can be applied to everyday life.

• Bite of Reality

 We're not just talking the talk; we're walking the walk. Our "Bite of Reality" component is about interactive experiences that simulate real-life financial scenarios. Imagine being thrown into a virtual world where you are tasked with managing a budget, dealing with unexpected expenses, and planning for the future — all while navigating the twists and turns of life. 

• The Impact

ēCO presented to over 2000 high school seniors in 11 different schools.  Before and after the simulation, a survey is given to the students. From those responses, ēCO can gauge the effectiveness of the presentation. Let’s take a look at the results from the past school year. After the presentation, 65% “agree” or “strongly agree” they would go to a credit union for financial help. An additional 25% of students promise to make and stick to a monthly budget. Whereas 96% of students said they will now establish a savings goal and prioritize saving for a purchase first. In a comparable trend, 93% of the students who responded to the post-simulation survey say they now want to use an online banking platform or checkbook register to track their finances. In the end, of all the students who responded to the post-simulation, 85% said they understood credit card debt better.

•  Join the Movement

 We're on a mission to change the face of financial education, and we want you to be a part of it. Whether you're a student, a teacher, or just someone who wants to get a better handle on your finances, join us in making financial literacy a priority. Together, we can demystify the world of money and make financial success a reality for everyone. If you would like to donate to the ēCO Credit Union Foundation; please visit www.ecocufoundation.org. Want ēCO to present to your class? Send us an email at [email protected].
Let's keep it real and take a big bite out of reality!