LBS Financial Hosts Bite of Reality Fairs

LONG BEACH, Calif.– LBS Financial Credit Union hosted two Bite of Reality financial education events for Long Beach Unified School District at Long Beach Polytechnic High School and Millikan High School. 

Bite of Reality is a hands-on app-based simulation, provided by the Richard Myles Johnson (RMJ) Foundation, that teaches teens how to make financial decisions and gives them a better understanding of the challenges of living on a budget. 

Students are given a fictional occupation, salary, credit score, spouse and a child, student loan debt, credit card debit, and medical insurance payments. The students then walk around to various stations to “purchase” housing, transportation, food, clothing, and other needs. LBS Financial Credit Union Employee volunteers were tasked to sell the students cars, homes, clothing, and other expensive items to make them run out of money. 

The program also features a credit union station to help with their financial needs and unwind any purchases towards the end of the simulation so they can stay within their budget. The RMJ Foundation provides the Bite of Reality app and tools to credit unions to host at local schools.

“The Bite of Reality program is a great way to teach teens basic money management skills in an interactive and safe setting,” said LBS Financial President and CEO Jeffrey Napper. “Our team really enjoyed working with the teachers at Long Beach Poly and Millikan to host these events for their juniors and seniors.” Jeffrey Napper who was also a volunteer at the Millikan High School event, is an alumnus of Millikan High School and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in his senior year.