Northern Credit Union is proud to partner with Cornell Cooperative Extension and local schools to offer Mad City Money® to students. Mad City Money® gives teens a taste of the real world in a hands-on learning experience designed to teach personal finance concepts and life skills. Each participant receives an “About Me” sheet complete with occupation, salary, spouse, student loan and credit card debt.
The goal of Mad City Money® is to give students the opportunity to:
- Practice budgeting in realistic circumstances
- Develop good judgment regarding spending
- Identify and experience the consequences of poor decisions
- Understand budgeting is a necessary step in good money management
Students move through various stations to purchase housing, transportation, food, clothing, household necessities, and daycare along with other needs and wants. The Fickle Finger of Fate randomly visits each participant and distributes unexpected windfalls and unplanned expenses. Participants use debit cards for their purchases and must balance both their debit card registers and budgets in order to win.
For more information please contact Northern Credit Union at 315.782.0155 or reach out to Cornell Cooperative Extension at 315.788.8450.