Lesson Plan
Budget Storytelling Plan
Participants will craft a budget-driven narrative, allocate resources to their story characters, and respond to unexpected financial twists to deepen practical budgeting and saving skills.
By embedding budgets in a story context, learners see real-world consequences of financial decisions, boosting engagement and long-term retention of budgeting principles.
Audience
Adult Group
Time
75 minutes
Approach
Story-based budgeting with interactive activities.
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials and Room Setup
15 minutes
- Review all digital and printed materials: Blockbuster Budget Scenes, Create Your Budget Character Worksheet, and Budget Plot Twists Game.
- Print one copy of the character worksheet per group.
- Arrange seating in small groups of 3–4 learners.
- Queue up the slide deck on a projector or screen.
Step 1
Introduction and Story Launch
10 minutes
- Welcome participants and explain the session’s objective: learning budgeting through storytelling.
- Present the core story scenario using Blockbuster Budget Scenes.
- Highlight key budgeting concepts: income, expenses, savings, and unexpected costs.
Step 2
Create Your Budget Character
15 minutes
- Divide learners into small groups and distribute the Create Your Budget Character Worksheet.
- Instruct each group to design a character profile with income sources and life goals.
- Have them assign a preliminary monthly budget across expense categories.
Step 3
Budget Allocation and Storytelling
20 minutes
- Using the slide deck scenes, each group maps their character’s expenses onto a visual budget timeline.
- Encourage discussion on trade-offs (e.g., housing vs. leisure).
- Groups craft a short narrative of their character’s month based on the allocated budget.
Step 4
Budget Plot Twists Game
15 minutes
- Introduce unexpected events with the Budget Plot Twists Game.
- Each group draws a twist (e.g., medical emergency, bonus income) and adjusts their character’s budget accordingly.
- Groups update their story outcomes based on the new financial scenario.
Step 5
Reflection and Wrap-Up
15 minutes
- Facilitate a discussion: What budgeting decisions led to positive or negative outcomes?
- Ask learners to share one real-life budgeting strategy they’ll adopt.
- Summarize key takeaways and distribute any follow-up resources.
Slide Deck
The Budget Blockbuster: Story-Driven Budgeting
• Engage with a narrative to learn budgeting principles
• Design characters, allocate funds, face plot twists
• Build real-world skills in Income, Expenses, Savings, Unexpected Costs
Welcome participants and set the stage. Explain that today’s session uses a movie-style story to explore budgeting decisions. Refer to the lesson plan’s Introduction and Story Launch section.
Meet Alex: Our Budget Hero
Scenario:
• Monthly Income: $3,000
• Goals: Rent, Groceries, Transportation, Savings, Leisure
• New job, recent move to a new city
Key Question: How will Alex allocate resources to thrive and save?
Introduce the core scenario. Read the slide aloud and invite questions about the character’s profile.
Core Budgeting Concepts
Income – Money received (salary, side gigs)
Expenses – Fixed & variable costs (rent, utilities, food)
Savings – Set-aside funds for goals/emergencies
Unexpected Costs – Unplanned events (medical, repairs)
Define each term with examples. Relate back to Alex’s scenario.
Activity: Create Your Budget Character
- Form groups of 3–4.
- Distribute the Create Your Budget Character Worksheet.
- Define your character’s income sources and life goals.
- Allocate an initial monthly budget across categories.
Guide groups through the character creation activity. Reference the worksheet link.
Mapping Budgets on a Timeline
• Plot each expense category along a monthly calendar
• Visualize cash in vs. cash out over four weeks
• Consider trade-offs: Housing vs. Leisure, Food vs. Savings
Demonstrate how to transform numbers into a story timeline. Encourage groups to sketch a month’s flow.
Game: Budget Plot Twists
• Each group draws one twist card (e.g., $500 car repair, $300 bonus)
• Update your character’s budget and story outcome
• Discuss how the twist impacts goals and choices
Explain the plot twist game rules. Show a sample twist and how to adjust budgets.
Reflection & Discussion
• Which budgeting decisions led to positive outcomes?
• How did plot twists change choices?
• What real-life strategies will you adopt?
Lead a group discussion. Use guiding questions to explore winners, losers, and learning moments.
Key Takeaways & Next Steps
- Prioritize essential expenses first
- Build an emergency fund for unexpected costs
- Adjust plans dynamically when surprises arise
For more resources, revisit your worksheet and game cards.
Summarize key lessons and provide next steps. Remind participants of follow-up resources.
Activity
Create Your Budget Character Worksheet
Group Member Names: _____________________________
1. Character Profile
- Name: _____________________________
- Age: ______ Occupation: _____________________________
- City / Setting: _____________________________
2. Income Sources
List each source and the monthly amount.
| Source | Amount ($) |
|---|---|
| 1. ___________________ | _________ |
| 2. ___________________ | _________ |
| 3. ___________________ | _________ |
| Total Monthly Income | _________ |
3. Life Goals
- Short-Term Goals (within 1 year):
• _______________________________________________
• _______________________________________________ - Long-Term Goals (1+ years):
• _______________________________________________
• _______________________________________________
4. Budget Allocation
Allocate your total income across categories. Ensure the sum of expenses does not exceed income.
| Category | Budgeted Amount ($) |
|---|---|
| Housing (rent/mortgage) | ____________ |
| Utilities (electric, water, internet) | ____________ |
| Food (groceries, dining) | ____________ |
| Transportation | ____________ |
| Savings | ____________ |
| Leisure / Entertainment | ____________ |
| Other (specify): _________ | ____________ |
| Total Expenses | __________ |
After allocating, is Income ≥ Expenses? Yes ___ No ___
5. Narrative Summary
Write a short story (4–6 sentences) describing your character’s month based on this budget allocation. Include at least one challenge and one success.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Reflection Questions (for later)
- What trade-offs did your group consider when setting budgets?
- Which expense category was hardest to adjust? Why?
- How will unexpected costs (like a medical bill or a bonus) affect your character’s story?
Game
Game: Budget Plot Twists
Overview:
A deck of unexpected financial events—some positive windfalls, some surprise expenses. Each group draws one card, adjusts their character’s budget, and updates the story outcome.
How to Play:
- Shuffle the twist cards and place face down in the center.
- Each group draws one card.
- Read the scenario aloud, then adjust your character’s budget by the specified amount.
- Discuss within your group: How does this twist affect goals, expenses, and savings?
- Revise your narrative summary to reflect the new outcome.
Plot Twist Cards:
| Card # | Scenario | Impact on Budget |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Car repair due: brake replacement needed | –$450 |
| 2 | Medical co-pay for a check-up | –$200 |
| 3 | One-time bonus from work | +$350 |
| 4 | Friend’s birthday gift | –$75 |
| 5 | Unexpected utility rebate | +$125 |
| 6 | Apartment rent increase | –$150 |
| 7 | Side-gig freelance payout | +$200 |
| 8 | Pet emergency vet visit | –$300 |
| 9 | Tax refund deposited | +$500 |
| 10 | Phone needs replacement | –$250 |
| 11 | Concert ticket refund | +$100 |
| 12 | Extra grocery costs for guests | –$120 |
| 13 | Bonus miles gift card (value) | +$75 |
| 14 | Home appliance repair (washing machine) | –$400 |
| 15 | Gift received from family | +$150 |
| 16 | Parking ticket | –$60 |
| 17 | Weekend getaway discount applied | +$180 |
| 18 | Car insurance premium due | –$220 |
| 19 | Unexpected overtime pay | +$300 |
| 20 | Emergency plumbing repair | –$350 |