Students at Western Nevada College participated in a financial literacy workshop aimed at improving their money management skills. The event, held by the ROADS Program in The Link, provided practical guidance on budgeting and long-term financial planning.
The session was led by Brook Sweeting, Senior Market Development Manager with United Federal Credit Union, and Paul Rodriguez, Branch Manager. They addressed questions from students and staff about banking, credit, and financial planning. Presenters highlighted the differences between credit unions and traditional banks and explained how small daily savings can accumulate over time. For instance, they noted that saving $5 each day could amount to nearly $800,000 over 50 years.
Other strategies discussed included bringing lunch from home instead of eating out, sharing family subscription services, avoiding delivery fees, and paying bills promptly to avoid interest penalties. Students were introduced to the 50/30/20 Rule for budgeting: allocating 50 percent of income to needs, 30 percent to wants, and 20 percent to savings.
The workshop also covered establishing credit through responsible use of credit cards or loans and creating utility accounts. “They encouraged students who needed to repair their credit to pay their card bill son time and in full, as well as set up automatic payments.”
By the end of the session, participants had new tools for managing finances effectively.
Western Nevada College offers modern classrooms and student support centers across its campuses in Carson City, Fallon, and Minden (https://www.wnc.edu/). As part of the Nevada System of Higher Education (https://www.wnc.edu/), it provides affordable education focused on student achievement through small classes and personalized instruction (https://www.wnc.edu/). The college is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (https://www.wnc.edu/) and collaborates with partners to offer bachelor’s degrees (https://www.wnc.edu/). It extends access through outreach programs and online learning options (https://www.wnc.edu/).
