LESSON Activity “Makes Cents” Budget Brainstorm self-reliance
SUBJECT: Money Budget Self-reliance
Use for Young Women, Young Men, Seminary, Family Home Evening, Primary Sharing Time or Activity Days
LESSON LIFESAVER Activity
Budget Brainstorm
OBJECTIVE: Say to youth, “A penny for your thoughts,” handing them a penny to hold as you brainstorm budget ideas. They can take ideas home to post in their room, or they can write ideas in their journals about money management. The activity also helps develop self-reliance.
Ideas that Make “Cents” (Sense): (1) Church Contributions (pay tithes and offerings first and blessings will come). (2) Debt (live within your income). (3) Savings (live within your earnings and put something away for a rainy day). (4) Self-Discipline (do without that which you cannot pay for). (5) Budgeting (plan money management to avoid debt). (6) Honesty (always ask, “Is it right?”).
More “Cents”-able Ideas: (1)Pending Spending— Place money earned in a special envelope labeled “pending spending.” This means that tithing needs to be paid before the money is spent. (2) No “Mon” (money) Yet Fun—Plan activities that don’t require a lot of cash, and you can have fun without the worry of needing extra money.
TO MAKE print activity in color or black and white.
MUTUAL NIGHT ACTIVITIES
PENDING SPENDING: Talk about ways you can put off spending to focus on priorities. Help young women picture themselves in the future starting a family on a budget. Help them visualize themselves in a budget-tight environment now, so that when they are in college and/or married, they can spend wisely.
Ideas: • Place money earned in an envelope labeled “Pending Spending,” until they can take out tithing and savings; divide the balance of the money into envelopes to plan for upcoming events and purchases. • Plan ahead where your money will be spent (e.g., gifts, greeting cards, vacation, or clothes). • Plan ahead for birthdays, holidays, and special days to purchase gifts. • Save for a mission and college. • Place money in a savings account and learn what interest can do.
“FOOD FOR ALL” PLANNING SESSION: Tell youth they will be eating a meal together. Give each youth $2.00 and take them to the grocery store to choose and purchase the most food for their money. They can prepare and share food purchased. See what happens. Be prepared with a can opener, napkins, and tableware. This is a good time to plan future activities that are inexpensive or that cost nothing. While eating, talk about the nutrition of each food and which items offered the most nutrition for the money.
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ADDITIONAL IDEAS ON TITHING AND FAST OFFERINGS:
• Online Option for Paying Tithes and Donations
Members can still pay tithing money the traditional way, but the Church’s new Online Donations website provides another way for members in the United States to make their contributions to the Church.
• About – Tithing and Charitable Donations
For Latter-day Saints (Mormons), tithing is a natural and integrated aspect of their religious belief and practice. By the biblical definition, tithing is one-tenth, and Church members interpret this as a tenth of their “increase,” or income, annually. It is paid on the honor system. No one asks to see income statements or pay slips.
Tithes and other charitable donations help the Church carry out its mission of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, caring for the poor, and strengthening members’ faith and commitment to Jesus Christ.
