April 11, 2026
As students from area high schools made their way around the booths at Credit for Life, set up in the Westfield High School gymnasium on April 8, they grappled with how they would manage their future finances as 25-year-olds in their chosen careers.
Kate Perez, WPS math supervisor, served on the organizing committee along with Patricia Healy, WHS counselor, Melissa Taylor of Beacon Bank and Linda Saltus, a retired finance professional. She said Credit for Life is beneficial to the students who go through the whole fair and visit all the booths.
“Students pick a career, get a sheet with monthly income, and fill out needed expenses. The goal is to have money left over at the end of the month and hopefully have some savings. They want to end with a positive number. Even a negative number teaches them something,” Perez said.
Lindsey McLaughlin of Tighe & Bond and Lisa Murray of OMG Building Products, LLC were stationed at the Housing booth. They found the students to be very engaged, friendly and respectful.
“One kid actually asked me, ‘How come rent is more expensive than what my parents pay on mortgage,’” said McLaughlin. Murray said the parents probably bought their house a long time ago.
Credit for Life is sponsored by MassHousing, the Financial Education Innovation Fund Grant awarded by the Office of Economic Empowerment’s state treasurer; Beacon Bank, BankESB, Peoples Bank, Westfield Bank, WG&E, Westfield Public Schools and Volunteers in Public Schools.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/04/students-consider-future-financing-challenges-at-credit-for-life.html
Kate Perez, WPS math supervisor, served on the organizing committee along with Patricia Healy, WHS counselor, Melissa Taylor of Beacon Bank and Linda Saltus, a retired finance professional. She said Credit for Life is beneficial to the students who go through the whole fair and visit all the booths.
“Students pick a career, get a sheet with monthly income, and fill out needed expenses. The goal is to have money left over at the end of the month and hopefully have some savings. They want to end with a positive number. Even a negative number teaches them something,” Perez said.
Lindsey McLaughlin of Tighe & Bond and Lisa Murray of OMG Building Products, LLC were stationed at the Housing booth. They found the students to be very engaged, friendly and respectful.
“One kid actually asked me, ‘How come rent is more expensive than what my parents pay on mortgage,’” said McLaughlin. Murray said the parents probably bought their house a long time ago.
Credit for Life is sponsored by MassHousing, the Financial Education Innovation Fund Grant awarded by the Office of Economic Empowerment’s state treasurer; Beacon Bank, BankESB, Peoples Bank, Westfield Bank, WG&E, Westfield Public Schools and Volunteers in Public Schools.
https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2026/04/students-consider-future-financing-challenges-at-credit-for-life.html