08/14/2026
Affordability Starts With Understanding the Choices We Make
For young people, the word affordability can feel abstract. But long before they sign a lease, finance a car, apply for a mortgage, or pay a tuition bill, they are already developing the habits and expectations that will shape how they manage money.
That is why financial education matters early.
Young people need opportunities to understand that earning money is only one part of financial well-being. They also need to learn how to save, create a budget, pay bills, distinguish between needs and wants, plan for unexpected expenses, and prepare for major future purchases.
A first car may require a down payment, insurance, fuel, maintenance, and repairs. College can mean tuition, books, housing, transportation, and other expenses. Renting an apartment brings monthly costs beyond rent itself. And becoming a homeowner requires preparation for everything from a down payment and closing costs to utilities, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and repairs.
Understanding those realities early helps young people begin to answer one of the most important financial questions they will face throughout life:
“Can I afford this—not just today, but over time?”
That question is at the heart of Future Me: A Financial Reality Fair, an interactive financial literacy experience for students ages 4–18.
On Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM at Richmond School of the Arts, students will have an opportunity to explore financial decision-making through age-appropriate activities focused on budgeting, banking, saving, transportation, housing, lifestyle expenses, and other real-world choices.
Older students will work through financial profiles and make decisions about how to use limited resources while balancing competing priorities. Younger students will begin with foundational concepts such as saving, spending, needs versus wants, and making thoughtful money choices.
The goal is not simply to teach students how to calculate a budget. It is to help them understand the relationship between choices, costs, priorities, and opportunity.
Because affordability is about more than whether there is enough money in an account today.
It is about learning to plan.
It is about understanding trade-offs.
It is about saving for tomorrow while managing the responsibilities of today.
And it is about helping young people develop the knowledge and confidence to make financial decisions that can support the lives they hope to build.
Future Me: A Financial Reality Fair
📅 Saturday, October 3, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
📍 Richmond School of the Arts
4314 Crutchfield Street, Richmond, VA 23225
Admission is free, but advance registration is required.
Future Me is presented with support from Fulton Bank, The Links, Incorporated – James River Valley (VA) Chapter, Urban Financial Services Coalition – Richmond Chapter, and Virginia Housing.
