GREENFIELD — Should I buy tickets to the next Red Sox game or my favorite band’s next concert, or should I pay my electricity bill and go grocery shopping for next week?

How many of us have been faced with that question before? For seniors in mostf Franklin and Hampshire county high schools, it’s a scenario that will likely present itself once or twice in the near future, as they graduate this spring and head off to college or careers, taking another step down the road to being independent adults.

Fortunately, Greenfield Community College and UMass Five College Federal Credit Union are here to help them navigate those financial decisions. The pair partners this week to host their third annual “Reality Fair” financial literacy event at the college.

The event will span two days, with seniors from Amherst-Pelham Regional High School spending most of the morning and afternoon at the college today, while students from Greenfield High School, Turners Falls High School, Mohawk Trail Regional High School, Pioneer Valley Regional High School, Four Rivers Charter Public School and Northampton High School will attend the same event on Thursday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

The students will each be able to choose a career and will be given that job’s average salary. They’ll then visit a series of booths, where they’ll be faced with real-life financial decisions — meal planning, securing a place to live, purchasing a wardrobe and finding transportation.

The program was started by credit unions and has since been adopted nationwide by credit unions and banks due to its success in helping high school students understand the financial realities of their decisions.

The organizers hope the event will give students new tools and knowledge to navigate the real world.

Unique to this event, students at Greenfield Community College will partner with professionals to provide the high school students with advice.

About 300 students are expected to attend.

You can reach Tom Relihan at:
trelihan@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 264
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