DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Students at Decatur Public Schools are getting an early lesson in money management thanks to a partnership with Land of Lincoln Credit Union and the district.

For the third year in a row, LLCU financial counselors visited all DPS junior high schools during National Teach Children to Save Week, which coincides with Financial Literacy Month in April. The workshops are designed to teach students the basics of saving, budgeting, earning money and understanding how checking and savings accounts work.

Cayla Hittmeier, chief marketing officer for Land of Lincoln Credit Union, said the program helps fill an important gap for students before they enter adulthood.

“We were asked to come in and talk to junior high students, sometimes high school students as well, to give them some financial literacy that they just don’t get in their basic, everyday curriculum," Hittmeier said.

She said many young people open their first bank account after getting their first job, but often have little understanding of how basic financial tools work.

“We thought this was just a great way for us to kind of get in the door and get them some basic knowledge.”

During the presentations, students participated in interactive lessons that helped them think about wants versus needs, budgeting choices and long-term savings goals.

Hittmeier said one of the most memorable parts is watching students react during those exercises.

“It’s always fun when we get to the need versus want, and they see the Chicago Bulls tickets, and they’re like, ‘Oh, that’s a need,’” she said. “It’s always a good time.”

The goal, she said, is to encourage students to think critically about spending habits early, before financial stress becomes a larger issue later in life.

“It’s so important for them to be able to set themselves up for an adulthood that doesn’t have the financial stresses that so many of us have,” she said. “If they can get those seeds planted really young, they start to think to themselves, ‘Okay, I can save for this. I can work for this."

As part of the initiative, LLCU also sent home flyers to parents offering to cover the initial $5 deposit required to open a youth savings account, helping students take the first step toward financial independence.

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