Students attended the event Money Matters hosted by the Wake Forest Chamber Foundation at the Ledford Center of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Oct. 26. 

At this event students were informed on the importance of managing their money, how to budget and how to prioritize in order to save money. 

The event prompted some students to think about their future independence.

“My motive for attending this event was to get a better understanding of money and what I need to know when I’m on my own in a few years,” sophomore Paydin Etheridge said.

Freshman Cameron Fulton felt similarly. 

“I just really wanted to learn how to spend money correctly,”  Fulton said.

Freshman Hannah Ayers selected to attend for the same reason. 

“To get more information about budgeting and spending money,”  Ayers said. 

Students participated in a variety of different tasks in order to understand the importance of managing their finances. 

“At this event we started in a room in a group at tables. We listened to a brief presentation. Then, we did an activity with Skittles showing how the different colors represented different taxes, and how they get taken out of our paychecks,” Etheridge said. “Then, we went to the gym and went around to different tables as we were in a real life situation, after being given a paper with things like our credit score, if we were married or not, our job and income etc.”

Students also participated in simulations and stations that put them in real life situations.

“We went to this other room and played this little thing where we were given a job. Whether we’re married or have kids or not or whatever,” Fulton said. “Then, we had to go to all these stations where they drain your pockets. We had to buy a house, buy a car, life insurance and things like that.” 

After attending the event, some students said they would be changing their current spending habits. 

Sophomore Emily Spruill and Ayers say they will be saving more for the future. 

Etheridge agrees, and will also be changing how much she eats out in order to save money. 

This event provided valuable information, and those who attended are recommending it to future students to increase their financial literacy. 

“I recommend other students to attend this event because it is an easy and fun way to get a better understanding of money and how important it is,” Etheridge said. 

While Etheridge stresses the importance of understanding finances, Fulton passes a warning on the future of our finances. 

“I think children in our society are so obsessed with spending money, and it’s going to bite them in the future,” Fulton said.