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Student teaches peers about being credit wise

Mike Tuttle, a Miami University senior, is giving fellow students financial education classes through a MasterCard financial internship program called

Staff photo by Nick Graham Mike Tuttle, a Miami University senior, is giving fellow students financial education classes through a MasterCard financial internship program called "Are you Credit Wise?" at Miami's Middletown campus.

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer 7:27 PM Wednesday, October 14, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — For Mike Tuttle, there is never a better time than the present to become credit wise.

The senior at Miami University Middletown is one of only 12 student interns in North America working with MasterCard Worldwide to present college students a financial education program, “Are You Credit Wise?” The peer-to-peer program is meant to assist students with learning about issues like credit scores, maintaining good credit, budgeting, bill payment and smart use of a credit card. This is the 11th year for the program and the first time it has been brought to any Miami school.

The goal of the program is to hone in on the college student market, which may not be as savvy financially and educate them about how credit choices can affect them short- and long-term, said Patrick Dwyer, vice president of Global Public Policy at MasterCard and head of the program.

“We try to give the full picture: payment cards, car loans, college loans and credit scores,” he said. “We want to dispel buying that $10 pizza and paying it off for 10 years. After that time it is going to be $80 or more.”

While Tuttle will be assisting students with their financial questions, he is quick to point out he is far from a “pious presenter telling you what you have done wrong and how to fix it.”

He himself has amounted enough credit card debt as an avid shopper and shoe lover to where he is living with his grandparents to help save money to pay it off. Through his experience, he hopes to show students the pitfalls of credit, and assist Miami’s diverse student populace.

“I am helping the person who has the shoe addiction like I do and the mother with three kids who is only living on her income at home,” he said. “I feel like I am really making a difference.”

So far, Tuttle has completed two credit presentations with plans for several more in-class discussions and seminars through December on the Middletown campus as well as the Miami campuses in Oxford and Hamilton. Although the $1,000 internship stipend from MasterCard to do the program will end after fall semester, Tuttle said he plans to continue presentations through the spring “because you have spring break and people that tend to be a little more loose with their money.”

He will hold a special “Don’t be Afraid of Credit” presentation from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at MUM. Come in costume and receive free candy and prizes or bring the kids and start trick-or-treating early.

For more information on the program, visit areyoucreditwise.com.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.

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