Budgeting is a crucial life skill that everyone needs to learn at some point. Middle school is the perfect time to start teaching students about budgeting, especially as they begin to take on more financial responsibilities. Here are 15 budgeting activities for middle school students.
1. Saving Goals: Have students set saving goals, such as buying a new toy or saving for a trip, and create a budget plan to achieve that goal.
2. Income vs. Expenses: Teach students about the difference between income and expenses, and have them create a list of their own.
3. Budgeting 101: Introduce students to the basic concepts of budgeting, such as income, expenses, and savings.
4. Budgeting Apps: Have students research free budgeting apps that can help them track their spending and manage their money.
5. Real-Life Scenarios: Provide students with real-life scenarios, such as grocery shopping or paying for a phone bill, and have them create a budget for each scenario.
6. Budgeting Worksheets: Provide students with budgeting worksheets that they can use to track their spending and make adjustments as needed.
7. Budgeting Board Games: Use board games, such as Pay Day, to teach students about budgeting and financial management.
8. Saving Challenges: Host savings challenges, such as a no-spend day or a week of brown-bagging lunch to encourage students to save money.
9. Shopping Spree Game: Play a shopping spree game where students have a set amount of money to spend and must make decisions based on their budget.
10. Budgeting Skill Building: Practice budgeting skills by having students create a budget for a fictional character, such as Harry Potter or Katniss Everdeen.
11. Saving as a Habit: Teach students how to turn saving into a habit by creating a savings jar at home where they can put their loose change.
12. Budgeting Journals: Have students keep a budgeting journal where they can track their spending and reflect on their financial decisions.
13. Banking Basics: Teach students about banking basics, such as checking and savings accounts, and how to manage their funds.
14. Investing in the Future: Teach students about the importance of investing in their future, such as saving for college or retirement.
15. Financial Literacy Resources: Provide students with financial literacy resources, such as books, websites, or podcasts that offer more information and resources on budgeting and financial management.
In conclusion, budgeting is an essential life skill that middle school students should learn early on. Through various activities and resources, students can gain the necessary knowledge and skills to make smart financial decisions and prepare for their future
