by Kyle Hartman

An in-class lecture can only get you so far, but an extended life simulation will get you farther. This is precisely the goal of Royal Credit Union’s Test Drive Reality Fair.

At Chippewa Valley Technical College on Tuesday, October 29th, Test Drive is an opportunity for high school students to simulate what it’s like to be responsible for handling their own finances, held by friendly and qualified community volunteers. 

Attendees spend a few hours as a 25-year-old version of themselves, wherein they select their desired career and level of education and are randomly assigned a familial status with or without a spouse or kids. Then, with their newly-calculated net monthly salary, they must walk booth-by-booth to make decisions about their budget for various monthly expenses an adult is faced with, including housing, insurance, food, childcare, and more, all while balancing life’s surprise expenses*.

The overall student perception of Test Drive was very positive, receiving much praise for its real-world value. “I enjoyed my time and thought it was valuable information,” said one Memorial attendee. “I think it helps students realize what problems they may face after high school.”

“I think this is an important experience for everyone,” recounted another, “as it really shows how expensive living is and that every decision you make today will come back[…] in the future.”

“I learned a lot about budgeting and [it] humbled me a lot[…] I definitely recommend.”

To any students interested in attending Test Drive, be sure to add a business class to next year’s schedule! Learn more about Test Drive here.

*Personal note: wear your seatbelt. Not only can it save your life, but it also saves your 25-year-old self $50…