ALBURQUEQUE, N.M.- New Mexico credit unions have taken their International Credit Union Week celebrations straight to the community. Credit union employees and volunteers who will be teaching basic saving and budgeting skills will visit at least 56 classrooms of elementary school students across the state. Research has shown that as little as 10 hours of personal finance education positively affects students' spending and saving habits. "The earlier students can begin to understand budgeting, the better off they will be in the future," said Sylvia Lyon, President/CEO of the Credit Union Association of New Mexico. The association coordinated the statewide effort to make a difference in financial literacy this October. "In a society where university administrators say they lose more students to credit card debt than to academic failure, financial education is extremely important," said Lyon. "Because credit unions operate with a "people helping people" philosophy, reaching out to the community by educating children was a perfect fit." Thirteen credit unions and the association will be sending representatives into 12 cities reaching an estimated 1,680 students.