Budgeting

In this activity students will:

• Simulate living for a month with a $1000 budget
• Make decisions between which expenses they can afford to pay and which to sacrifice
• Read information and facts about unemployed Americans living through poverty

Available in English & Spanish

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Discover which areas of the country have had major real estate market changes
• Analyze the housing market changes in their own zip code since 2004

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Discover the salary necessary to own a home in different cities
• Investigate the type of home someone can own with a particular salary

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Define the millennial generation based on their habits and preferences
• Hypothesize how the habits of millennials will continue to impact marketing, products, and the economy

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Determine whether renting or owning is better for particular people based on parameters
• Calculate the cost of renting versus buying based on criteria

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Take a quiz to uncover their personal health and financial management skills
• Analyze the results related to both categories
• Understand the relationship between their scores and determine how one can impact the other

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Estimate their total student loan debt
• Use a Loan Repayment Calculator to compare their monthly payments using various repayment plans
• Choose a repayment plan that best fits their needs and lifestyle

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Calculate unit price and then use their answers, as well as other factors, to make decisions about grocery shopping.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Determine an appropriate amount to budget for housing
• Find an apartment that balances affordability, amenities, and proximity to public transport in a city of their choice
• Avoid common pitfalls and hidden fees associated with renting an apartment

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Prioritize budget items to determine their needs vs. wants.
• Consider how their values and budget ultimately determine how they spend their income.
• Available in English & Spanish

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Choose 5 US cities to compare using cost of living and economic growth measurements.
• Choose which would be best for them and do an apartment search to determine where they could afford to live.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Compare the costs and advantages of various health insurance options.
• Search on the Affordable Care Act marketplace for plans.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Research the cost of utilities for an apartment in the city of their choosing.
• Prioritize to fit their budget.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Follow multi-step directions to complete a full adult budget including housing, transportation, food, insurance, student loans, etc.
• Reflect on the adult budget they’ve completed and assess how their choices impact their lifestyle.

In this activity, students will:  

• Make choices regarding income in college
• Set aside money to pay yourself first in savings
• Create a monthly budget to follow during freshman year
• And then reflect on the process of budgeting.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Practice budgeting basics using The Bean Game
• Understand the impact a restricted budget can have on their spending habits
• Reflect on their personal budgeting choices 

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Read an article describing how heating bills can be lowered using simple changes at home.
• Calculate how much they can save on a heating bill.
• Embark on a Biggest Loser challenge to cut their heating bill by more than anyone else in their class!

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Read real-life stories of individuals’ student loan repayment choices, focusing on how they take advantage of options offered by the federal government.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Choose a city and research the costs associated with non-car commuting such as bike ownership and public transportation.
• Decide whether a car is a need or want for their lifestyle.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Research the non-insurance costs associated with maintaining their health.
• Make decisions about which expenses are priorities for them and which can be forfeited to remain on budget.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Do research on car costs such as purchase price, loan payment amount, insurance, fuel, and maintenance.
• Compare these costs to their estimated monthly take-home pay.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Determine who has the best wireless phone plan for them.
• Evaluate their current phone usage, deconstruct their current wireless plan and research other available plans to determine if they should stick with their current plan or make a switch.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Choose their own research methodology to estimate their future monthly food costs of groceries and dining out.

In this Common Core Standards-aligned project, students will read a finance columnist’s advice for post-college budgeting and compare it to their own experience creating a budget. Based on their learning, they’ll choose from five possible projects to complete.

• Available in English & Spanish

In this Common Core Standards-aligned project, students will plan a meal for a group of people, comparison shop for ingredients, and create an expense report via spreadsheet to track their “spending.”

In this Common Core Standards-aligned project, students will explore the ever-evolving line of online and mobile budgeting tools available to help them understand their spending.

In this Common Core Standards-aligned project, students will assume the role of roommates deciding how to split costs of a shared apartment. The project focuses on negotiation, clear communication, and budgeting with a spreadsheet.

• Available in English & Spanish

In this Common Core-aligned project, students will create a simple monthly spreadsheet of actual versus budgeted expenses. They will utilize multiple basic spreadsheet functions and formulas as well as do basic formatting.

In this Common Core Standards-aligned project, students will identify their budget for a used car based on different scenarios, search for different cars, and compare their qualities to find the best matches.

In this Common Core Standards-aligned project, students will choose two health insurance plans and then calculate their out-of-pocket expenses for a variety of scenarios. They’ll create a spreadsheet and answer questions on the best insurance decisions for them.

• Available in English & Spanish

In this Common Core Standards-aligned project, students will make a budget that allows them to move off campus for less money than room and board. They will also determine how the immediate savings are impacted if paid with student loans. They create a slideshow presentation to persuade their parents.

In this Common Core Standards-aligned project, students plan a potluck Friendsgiving dinner, comparison shop for ingredients, and create an expense report via spreadsheet to track their “spending.”

In this Common Core-aligned project, students will track their spending (using a spreadsheet) for a defined period of time, and then will track their spending a second and third time using small interventions aimed and reducing their spending. They’ll reflect on their process as well as on spending habits as a whole.

• Available in English & Spanish

In this Common Core Standards-aligned project, students will research and compare transportation options for a group vacation in various locations. They’ll use a spreadsheet to calculate cost relative to their projected salaries.

In this Number Chug, students will:

• Analyze inflation data for common grocery items
• Decide whether inflation affects their long-term budgeting goals

Common Core Alignment:

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSS.ID.B.6.A Fit a function to the data; use functions fitted to data to solve problems in the context of the data. Use given functions or choose a function suggested by the context. Emphasize linear, quadratic, and exponential models.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSS.ID.B.6.C Fit a linear function for a scatter plot that suggests a linear association.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSS.ID.C.7 Interpret the slope (rate of change) and the intercept (constant term) of a linear model in the context of the data.

In this Case Study, students learn the basics of budgeting, from setting priorities, creating a savings goal, tracking spending and learning about tradeoffs required to achieve financial goals. They take on the role of a peer providing financial advice and learn to develop various strategies.

• Available in English & Spanish

In this case study, students will take on the role of a trusted friend helping to create a budget and make an important financial decision. Students will analyze current spending, assist in creating a budget, and offer suggestions for how to manage a variety of financial stressors.