GROVEPORT, Ohio -- Tough economic times have many people wishing they were more financially savvy.
Students at one Central Ohio high school got a lesson on how to keep themselves from ending up with bad credit or even a bankruptcy.
NBC 4's Tom Brockman reported with the FAST FACTS.
Good personal-finance management is the foundation that will keep a person out of bankruptcy.
Bankruptcy attorneys and judges were in a Groveport Madison High School classroom instead of a courtroom Monday.
It was a part of Credit Abuse Resistance Education or the CARE program.
The class discussed everything from budgets to filing bankruptcy to the dangers of falling behind on credit cards.
Imagine this scenario, students: You're 50 years old and you're paying for nachos and wings that you had on spring break when you were 22.
Federal Bankruptcy Judge John Hoffman said there were some 53,000 bankruptcies filed in Ohio last year and there never has been a better time to teach young adults about finances.
"You learn social studies. You learn science. You learn math. Some of the basic things you need to learn to live in a 21st century society -- you don't learn those skills," Hoffman said.
Attorney Nannette Dean did a mock budget with the students.
"The budget we did today was key because they got to the end of the month and they had $45 dollars left. They said, 'But that doesn't cover everything,' and that's exactly right," Dean said.
"My colleagues and I kind of looked at the way the economy is today. Our job is to prepare them academically, but we also need to give them the tools to survive financially," GMHS teacher Greg Torr said.
Schools that are interested in participating in this free CARE program should call 614-464-2235.
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