A Financial Reality Fair is an interactive financial literacy program for high school students. This program gives students the opportunity to experience real life financial challenges that they will face as they become adults. Students choose a career and are given a starting salary. They must complete a budget sheet to live within their means, while paying for everyday costs such as housing, utilities, transportation, clothing, food, and even child care.

Local businesses play the part of the vendors providing these services to the students. Vendors also try to tempt students with extra expenditures like concert tickets or cruises.

Students must decide what costs to cut and what is needed to stay on budget. Once they have visited all vender tables and have finished compiling their monthly expenses they will sit with a credit counselor to make sure they were able to balance their budget.