By Joel Rosenbaum
Eddie Fabi, 15, of Vacaville talks with volunteer Natasha North as he examines his purchase options Monday while shopping for household items during Travis Credit Union’s ninth annual Mad City Money Financial Boot Camp for Young Adults at the credit union’s headquarters in Vacaville. The workshop teaches teens about managing their money, giving them an identity complete with employment, monthly salary, marital status and even the possibility of having a child. They were then sent to visit with merchants (drawn from community volunteers) to make purchases for everyday living expenses such as food, clothing, entertainment and transportation all while staying within their set budget. Other economic skills taught included balancing a checkbook and how credit cards work. Travis is offering more of these boot camps, July 11 at the Solano Office of Education in Fairfield July 27 at the Solano Community College, Vallejo campus.