Analyzing budgets
Students analyze case studies and apply the 50-30-20 rule of budgeting.
Big idea
Budgeting helps ensure that you’ll have enough money for the things you need and the things you want, while still building your savings for future goals.
Essential questions
- What are rules to live by for budgeting?
- How can they help inform spending decisions?
Objectives
- Create a budget using the 50-30-20 rule
- Analyze a budget to see if it meets the 50-30-20 rule
What students will do
- Learn the 50-30-20 rule of budgeting.
- Use the “Analyzing budgets” worksheet to determine whether a scenario from the “Budget scenarios” handout meets the 50-30-20 rule.
- Give advice to help the characters in the scenario meet the 50-30-20 rule.
Download activity
Teacher guide
cfpb_building_block_activities_analyzing-budgets_guide.pdf
Student materials
cfpb_building_block_activities_analyzing-budgets_worksheet.pdf
cfpb_building_block_activities_budget-scenarios_handout.pdf
Note: Please remember to consider your students’ accommodations and special needs to ensure that all students are able to participate in a meaningful way.