Financial Reality Fairs

Engaging students in healthy financial decision making

Financial Reality Fairs prepare high school students throughout the Northwest to make sound money-saving and spending decisions that will benefit them for a lifetime. By partnering with the region’s credit unions, we provide real-world simulations that guide students through a day-in-the-life of an adult’s financial responsibilities through an app-based platform called “Bite of Reality.” Students complete the 90-minute budgeting exercise by making everyday purchases and deciding on expenses, which impact their budget in real time, giving them a realistic look at money management.

Due to the shift to virtual learning because of COVID-19, Bite of Reality is offering a remote version of the app at no cost to credit unions through 12/31/2020. With Bite of Reality Remote, credit unions won’t need a venue, kit, or volunteers. The virtual program runs in a linear format, so all participants go through the exercise together, allowing the facilitator to host the activity with a group via video call. Students can download the Bite of Reality 2 app to their phones or tablets. A group of 20 to 30 participants per session is recommended.

Impact

Partner credit unions have been awarded kits to implement financial reality fairs in their local schools

"Students today are much more digitally connected, and regardless of income or experience at home, most have some type of smart phone or similar device. Engaging students via the technology they use every day allows for less time explaining or correcting issues for individual students during the fair – where time is always at a premium – and allows for more time for actually digging into the reality of the experience." - Stephen Pagenstecher, COO at Portland-based Point West Credit Union

GET INVOLVED

Bite of Reality

All Northwest Credit Union Association members are invited to submit a grant application to host a financial reality fair in their community. The Foundation provides all materials and support to facilitate a successful financial reality fair. We recommend submitting an application six to eight weeks prior to your planned fair date.

APPLY FOR A KIT

Bite of Reality Remote

All Northwest Credit Union Association members are encouraged to apply to host a virtual financial reality fair. The Foundation provides all materials and support to facilitate a fair remotely. We recommend applying two weeks prior to your planned virtual fair date.

Apply to Host a Remote Fair

Learn More

If you're interested in learning about the Bite of Reality program or other ways we support financial literacy efforts of credit unions, please submit below. We are available to discuss opportunities and potential solutions for your community and member needs.

Submit Interest

Our Stories

Bite of Reality Goes Remote

The popular Bite of Reality app, used to educate students and young adults in real-world budgeting skills, has gone virtual with the newly launched Bite of Reality Remote. During the 2018-2019 school year, 3,500 students in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington honed their financial skills at in-person Financial Reality Fairs using the Bite of Reality app. The Northwest Credit Union Foundation granted kits to credit unions across the region, making 40 fairs possible in 21 schools. Now, NWCUF is switching gears, working to meet credit unions’ online financial education needs with Bite of Reality Remote, as students continue their studies virtually…