SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Royal Credit Union and Cookie Cart recently partnered for the first time to bring Royal’s signature financial education experience, Test Drive Mobile, to Cookie Cart interns.
The hands-on simulation introduced approximately 60 teens to real-life financial decision-making, with support from over 20 dedicated volunteers
Test Drive Mobile is an interactive, app-based simulation designed to help participants understand what it takes to make it on their own as a 25-year-old. Students begin by selecting from 40 potential careers, each tied to a realistic salary and estimated debt load.
To deepen the experience, participants receive randomized life scenarios including marital status, number of children, and a credit score—offering a glimpse into the financial realities many adults face. From there, students visit 11 interactive stations where they make purchases related to housing, transportation, childcare, and more while staying within their monthly budget. Each station is staffed by volunteers who guide students through decision-making and offer practical advice as they weigh their financial choices.
“Thank you, Royal Credit Union, for the amazing Test Drive event that immersed young people from Cookie Cart, Northside Achievement Zone, and Appetite for Change into the interactive financial literacy program,” Jacquelyn Carpenter, executive director of Cookie Cart, said in a statement. “The hands-on modules brought budgeting, financial planning, and savings to life, providing meaningful, real-world learning experiences for the teens in our care. We are proud to partner with Royal for such a successful day of learning as part of our Leadership Academy.”
Cookie Cart is a Minneapolis- based nonprofit dedicated to empowering teens of color by providing hands-on paid work and classroom experiences in nonprofit bakeries.
Through this unique combination of real-world job training and life skills education, Cookie Cart helps young people build leadership, employment, and personal development skills that prepare them for future success, the credit union said.
Royal’s Test Drive Mobile program aligns well with this mission, equipping teens with practical money management tools in budgeting, saving, and critical thinking to help them confidently navigate their financial futures.
“We are proud to partner with Cookie Cart to provide their interns with this unique learning opportunity,” said Deb Paulsen, Community Financial Education Coordinator at Royal. “Royal Credit Union developed Test Drive Mobile so that participants learn to balance their wants and needs, understand what it takes to make it on their own and better prepare for their future.”
