Make the Right Start

What do you want to do someday? Everyone spends time daydreaming and thinking of the future — what car they’ll drive, where they’ll live and the exciting things they’ll do. But how do you turn your daydreams into reality?

While you don’t have to decide today which paths you are going to take, you should start figuring out the types of things you want to do. Your goals may be short-term, like making the honor roll or joining a club. Goals can also be long-term, such as going to college, becoming a nurse or traveling the world. All goals take some preparation — whether that preparation is skill building, education, job experience or money management.

Set Your Goals

List some of your goals and the steps you need to take to reach them. Also think about giving yourself a deadline.

My Goal What I Need to Do to Reach It Deadline

Example: Make the basketball team

Practice Tryouts are Oct. 1

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Share Your Goals

It is important to set goals and create a plan to achieve them. It’s also important to share those goals with people in your life so they can help you on your path. Talk to two adults about the goals you’ve set.

I will share goal #_________ with _______________________________.

I will share goal #_________ with _______________________________.

Savings Tips

Think about different ways you or your family could save money. These ideas can be as creative as you imagine them to be. Jot down your ideas before each class for discussion at the beginning of each session.

Our Goal: As a group, we expect to come up with _____ savings tips by the last session.

During the last class session, all the ideas developed by the group will be distributed as a complete list.

Example: Redeem pop cans instead of throwing them away.

Week 1

1.

Week 6

11.

2. 12.

Week 2

3.

Week 7

13.

4. 14.

Week 3

5.

Week 8

15.

6. 16.

Week 4

7.

Week 9

17.

8. 18.

Week 5

9.

Week 10

19.

10. 20.

What Does Your Family Spend Money On?

Every family spends money a little differently based on different circumstances such as family size, income and priorities. Understanding how your money is spent each month is an important step in learning to create a budget.

Talk to your parents about the different ways your family spends money each month and write down a few. Bring your list back to the next session to share with the class.

1. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

4. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

5. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

6. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

7. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

8. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

9. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

10.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Bring your list back to the next class for discussion.