Budgeting Activities

In this activity, students will be able to: 

• Examine a number of cartoons about the challenge of identifying needs vs. wants and choose one to analyze in more depth
• Explain the cartoon's key message about needs vs. wants and how it depicts that message

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Get up and out of their seats to identify various budget expenses amongst different categories
• Discuss with classmates about their reasoning for their team's categorizations

In this activity, students will: 

• Explore various stages of technology development for watching videos, internet access, listening to music, and cell phones
• Analyze how new technology products affect their budget 

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 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:

• 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 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:

• 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:

• 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.