On April 24th, I had the chance to volunteer as a “financial advisor” for the United Way’s Financial Reality Check exercise at Eastglen High School in Edmonton. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but it ended up being the most fun I’ve had in a high school gym.
The premise is simple: students are given a fictional income and asked to make decisions about housing, transportation, childcare, food, and all the usual suspects that drain a bank account in real life. Watching teenagers try to stretch their budgets to include things like renting an apartment big enough for six dogs was both entertaining and strangely familiar. Some made decisions hastily, others took their time, and many were genuinely shocked by how fast their money disappeared — a reaction I see just as often in adults.
My role was to help them figure out whether their budget balanced, but it became clear very quickly that the hardest part wasn’t the math. It was the choices.
The “What do you mean I can’t afford it?”
The “How do I know if I’m spending wisely?”
The “Is everyone finding this easier?”
Frustration. Overwhelm. Avoidance. Perfectionism.
The same emotional patterns I see in financial therapy sessions were showing up in real time with these teens. And it made me think: if more of us had been given a chance to practice these decisions when we were younger, maybe money wouldn’t feel so stressful or shame-filled for so many today.
I left Eastglen with a lot to think about. It was a clear reminder of how early our beliefs and habits around money take shape — and how valuable it is to give young people a place to learn and make mistakes without pressure. I’m grateful to the United Way and TD for putting together such a practical, well-designed event and for having me there. I am also grateful that I am no longer in high school.