Created in 2004, the Maine Credit Unions’ Financial Fitness Fair is a no-cost program hosted by credit union volunteers in which participating students experience a monthly budgeting simulation. After choosing a career, participants receive income and use it to pay for various expenses the average adult faces each month––all within roughly two hours.

Credit union volunteers set up eight booths associated with expenses in any large space you have, such as the gymnasium or auditorium. Students visit each booth to learn more about the expenditure from volunteers, as well as to ultimately make a decision about what they pay for.

For example, when faced with paying for transportation, they’ll be able to choose between several different options––each with its own price point. They could choose to pay for the expensive new full-sized truck or sports car, or they could choose to go with the cheaper used compact car. If they want to further save money, they could choose to take public transportation and ride the bus to work every day.

The choice is theirs, but it’s important for the students to remember that their monthly income does have its limits. The end goal for the students is to pay for all their monthly expenses, but without paying more than they earn each month. At the end of the fair, they’ll need to fill out their budget sheet, where students will add up the total cost of all their expenses. If their total payment amount adds up to less than what they earn each month, great––they did it! If they’re spending more than they earn each month, they’ll need to go back to the booths and choose some lower-cost choices to avoid debt.

The Financial Fitness Fair is hands-on, insightful, and lots of fun!

If you’re a credit union or school interested in hosting a Financial Fitness Fair, please view this Welcome Packet.

To participate in the Virtual Financial Fitness Fair, go here. For more information on the virtual fair, please view the Virtual Financial Fitness Fair Welcome Packet.

Contact Jake Holmes to inquire about how to schedule a fair.

Need to order materials for a fair? Use this form to place your order.

Financial Fitness Fair Booth Topics:

• Credit
• Basics
• Student Loans
• Extras
• Transportation
• Housing
• Savings

Scheduling for the 2025/26 academic year Financial Fitness Fairs is underway!

Fall 2025:

• Wednesday, October 29 – Stearns High School | Northern Penobscot Chapter
• Wednesday, October 29 – Upper Kennebec Valley High School | Kennebec Valley Chapter
• Wednesday, November 5 – UMaine Presque Isle | Aroostook Chapter
• Tuesday, November 18 – Spruce Mountain High School | OTIS FCU
• Wednesday, November 12 – Homeschoolers of Maine | Jeannette G. Morin Chapter
• Wednesday, November 19 – Hermon High School | Bangor Chapter
• Wednesday, December 10 – Mt. View High School | Kennebec Valley Chapter
• Wednesday, December 10 – Massabesic High School | York County Chapter
• Thursday, December 11 – Searsport High School | Bangor Chapter
• Monday, December 15 – Windham High School | Alex Ferguson Chapter

Spring 2026:

• Thursday, March 5 – Lake Region High School | Alex Ferguson Chapter
• Thursday, March 19 – Morse High School | Jeannette G. Morin Chapter
• Tuesday, March 31 – Marshwood High School | York Chapter
• Thursday, April 9 – Cony High School | Kennebec Valley Chapter
• Tuesday, April 28 – Mt. Ararat High School | Jeannette G. Morin Chapter
• Wednesday, May 13 – Hall Dale High School | Kennebec Valley Chapter

As a reminder of where your chapter/credit union hosted a FFF in previous years, please reference the list below. The League strongly encourages you to reach out to these schools to bring our educational, insightful, and fun money management event back for the next class of students to experience.