Lesson Plan
Money Management Map
Students will learn to create a balanced budget, identify saving strategies, and make informed spending choices through interactive activities and guided practice.
Early money management skills empower students to set financial goals, avoid debt, and develop lifelong habits for responsible spending and saving.
Audience
9th Grade Class
Time
60 minutes
Approach
Interactive lessons, games, and practice sharpen real-world money skills.
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Familiarize yourself with the Budgeting Basics Slide Deck.
- Preview the Spend or Save Challenge Game Cards and sort into student sets.
- Print or distribute the Monthly Budget Planner Worksheet.
- Prepare any digital platforms or projectors needed for slides.
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
- Welcome students and introduce today’s topic: being financially fit.
- Ask: “What would you do if you had an unexpected $50 windfall?”
- Collect a few responses to highlight spending vs. saving decisions.
Step 2
Mini-Lecture: Budgeting Basics
15 minutes
- Present key budgeting concepts using the Budgeting Basics Slide Deck: needs vs. wants, income, expenses.
- Define terms: budget, savings goal, discretionary spending.
- Show a sample budget and walk through line items.
Step 3
Interactive Game: Spend or Save Challenge
15 minutes
- Divide students into small groups and distribute Spend or Save Challenge Game Cards.
- Each card describes a scenario; groups decide to spend or save and justify their choice.
- Rotate cards so each group analyzes 4–5 scenarios.
- Debrief key decisions with the whole class.
Step 4
Guided Practice: Monthly Budget Planner
15 minutes
- Hand out the Monthly Budget Planner Worksheet.
- Students draft a one-month budget based on a hypothetical income.
- Encourage inclusion of savings goals and variable expenses.
- Circulate to support and answer questions.
Step 5
Wrap-Up & Assessment
10 minutes
- Invite volunteers to share highlights from their budgets.
- Conduct a quick exit ticket: list one saving strategy and one way to track spending.
- Collect exit tickets to assess understanding and plan follow-up.
Slide Deck
Budgeting Basics
Understanding how to plan and control your money to meet needs, wants, and financial goals.
Introduce the session and set expectations. Welcome students and explain today’s focus on budgeting basics.
Why Budget?
• Gain control of your finances
• Avoid running out of money
• Save for goals and emergencies
• Make informed spending decisions
Briefly outline what will be covered. Emphasize relevance to everyday life.
Needs vs. Wants
Needs:
• Essentials you must have (food, shelter, utilities)
Wants:
• Extras you can live without (streaming, snacks, games)
How can misclassifying affect your budget?
Explain differences and ask for student examples.
Income & Expenses
Income:
• Money you receive (jobs, gifts, allowances)
Expenses:
• Money you spend (fixed vs. variable costs)
Fixed: rent, subscriptions
Variable: dining out, entertainment
Define and illustrate with examples like allowance or part-time jobs.
Creating a Budget
- List monthly income
- List all expenses (fixed & variable)
- Allocate money to needs first
- Set aside savings
- Adjust wants based on residual funds
Walk students through each step and invite questions.
Setting Savings Goals
• Specific: What are you saving for?
• Measurable: How much do you need?
• Achievable: Is it realistic?
• Relevant: Does it matter to you?
• Time-bound: When will you reach it?
Discuss SMART savings goals. Provide relatable examples.
Tracking Your Spending
• Use a budgeting app or spreadsheet
• Record every expense daily
• Categorize spending to identify trends
• Review weekly to stay on track
Show simple tools like apps or spreadsheets.
Sample Monthly Budget
Income: $800
Needs:
• Food & toiletries: $200
• Transport: $100
Savings Goal: $150
Wants:
• Entertainment: $100
• Miscellaneous: $50
Remaining Buffer: $200
Present example and encourage students to note takeaways.
Reflection & Next Steps
• What surprised you about budgeting?
• Which area will be most challenging?
Next: Apply these concepts in our Spend or Save Challenge & Monthly Budget Planner.
Close by prompting students to reflect and prepare for activities.
Game
Interactive Game: Spend or Save Challenge
In this game, each group will receive a set of scenario cards. For each scenario, decide whether you would spend or save, and prepare a brief justification for your choice. Afterward, we’ll debrief as a class to explore different perspectives and trade-offs.
Game Setup
- Divide into small groups of 3–4 students.
- Distribute one full set of Spend or Save Challenge Game Cards to each group.
- Give groups 10 minutes to work through 4–5 cards.
- Rotate sets so each group tackles a variety of scenarios.
Debrief Questions
- Which decisions were easiest or hardest? Why?
- How did you weigh short-term enjoyment versus long-term goals?
- Did anyone change their mind after hearing other group’s reasoning?
- What strategies can help you decide in real life?
Worksheet
Monthly Budget Planner
Name: ____________________________ Date: _______________
1. Income Sources
List all sources of income for one month (e.g., allowance, part-time job, gifts).
- Source: ____________________________ Amount: $ ____________
- Source: ____________________________ Amount: $ ____________
- Source: ____________________________ Amount: $ ____________
- Source: ____________________________ Amount: $ ____________
- Source: ____________________________ Amount: $ ____________
2. Fixed Expenses
These are costs that generally stay the same each month (e.g., rent, subscriptions).
| Expense Category | Budgeted ($) | Actual ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. ____________________ | ____________ | __________ |
| 2. ____________________ | ____________ | __________ |
| 3. ____________________ | ____________ | __________ |
| 4. ____________________ | ____________ | __________ |
| 5. ____________________ | ____________ | __________ |
3. Variable Expenses
These costs can change month to month (e.g., food, entertainment, transportation).
| Expense Category | Budgeted ($) | Actual ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. ____________________ | ____________ | __________ |
| 2. ____________________ | ____________ | __________ |
| 3. ____________________ | ____________ | __________ |
| 4. ____________________ | ____________ | __________ |
| 5. ____________________ | ____________ | __________ |
4. Savings Goals
Identify at least two savings goals and how much you plan to set aside each month.
| Savings Goal | Target Amount ($) | Monthly Contribution ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. ____________________ | _________________ | _______________________ |
| 2. ____________________ | _________________ | _______________________ |
| 3. ____________________ | _________________ | _______________________ |
5. Budget Summary
Total Income: $ ____________
Total Expenses (Fixed + Variable): $ ____________
Total Savings Contributions: $ ____________
Balance (Income – Expenses – Savings): $ ____________
6. Reflection Questions
- Which expense category was the highest, and what could you do to reduce it?
- How will tracking your spending help you reach your savings goals?
- What did you learn about your spending habits, and how might this influence your future budget?
Good luck planning your month! Remember: revisiting and adjusting your budget regularly helps you stay on track.