Topic Summary
Spending decisions – What do you spend your money on?
If you want to make sure you’re being smart with your money, you need one very important thing: a budget.
What Is A Budget?
Budgeting is a way of planning your finances to ensure that you have enough money to purchase items you want.
We’ll look at one month as an example.
Example: when you combine your allowance and the money you earn from your part-time job, you make two thousand pounds per month. This total is called your income.
So what kind of budget should I use to make sure I’m being smart with my income? There’s a useful method called the ‘50/30/20 Rule’ that suggests you spend 50% of your income on your needs, 30% on your wants and 20% on your savings.
For most people, spending is easy and saving is hard, so pay yourself first: automate transferring money into your savings account at the start of the month. Eventually, this money will be there for you in an emergency, or to put towards a spending goal.
Question
What is a budget?
Discussion
Have a chat with an adult: what challenges do people have when saving?
How it works in real life
Think of some food or products you use each week, such as bread or toothpaste. Do you know some of the prices already? Look up the prices of at least three items online.