More than half of Americans say they have anxiety about their finances. Several young ladies from the Tallahassee Pace Center for Girls are now learning how to be a lot less anxious about their money.
One of those girls is named Zakiyah; the program only gives first names of clients. She said she's s already learned a lot about how to avoid spending money as fast as you get it.
"I think for people who have that temptation, it's good to put money on the side. Like you have 2 separate piles of what you want to spend and what you want to save."
The instruction took place at First Commerce Credit Union's Northwest Tallahassee location. First Commerce's Mandy Schnittker said the girls explored certificates of deposit as a savings option.
"Knowing that that money is going to be there a year from now and they can use it and put it towards something that's important to them, that's what's important to us is helping them feel financially empowered."
PACE staff member Sakina Dennard said it's the sort of lesson that all young people need.
"Even in traditional schools and high schools, they don't learn too much about life skills and saving money and the importance of money. And sometime kids think money grows on trees, so it shows them it doesn't and you do have to work hard for your money and manage it well."
The financial education program will go on for a year, giving the PACE girls a thorough grounding in how to use their money wisely. The local PACE Center for Girls provides special programs - including valuable life skills experiences - for at-risk young women between the ages of 11 and 17. The program served nearly 3,000 clients in the past year.
