In the weeks prior to the start of the unit, students track their expenditures during a two-week period. In class, students create a group presentation about personal and financial goals. Individually, students identify four personal goals and describe the related financial goals. With financial goals in mind, students work in pairs to complete a budget analysis for a fictitious high school senior who needs to save money for prom. The lesson concludes with a personal budget development activity that uses the information on expenditures that was collected during the two-week data gathering period.
Objectives
- Analyze personal goals to determine related and necessary financial goals.
- Devise personal goals for a variety of time frames and develop related financial goals.
- Gather data and use it to analyze personal spending.
- Develop a budget that allows personal saving.
Grade Level
High School – College
Time Required
Two weeks of data collection outside of class (time frame for data collection can be modified as appropriate). One 50-minute class period.
Materials
- SmartBoard (optional) If using a computer and projector please click when procedure says touch
- Interactive PDF file Ƀ Copies of Handout 1: Tracking Your Expenses
- Copies of Handout 2: Where Am I Going? A Goal-Setting Exercise
- Copies of Handout 3: Budget Worksheet
National Standards in K–12 Personal Finance Education
- Financial Responsibility and Decision-making
- Standard 4: Make financial decisions by systematically considering alternatives and consequences.
- Planning and Money Management
- Standard 1: Develop a plan for spending and saving
