Wisdom for Youth from Senior Expertise Lesson 6: Show Me the Money Financial Literacy GOAL: To understand the benefits and importance of managing your finances. WYSEBreaker: (5 minutes) Senior Mentor: What is the best piece of advice you received about money? (Please DO NOT share personal finances. This advice should be general.) Student Protégé: What are your top goals for retirement? Senior Mentor (Advice) Student Protégé (Retirement Goal) This is your sixth session with WYSE. It should only take one hour to complete the entire worksheet. Please remember to complete the evaluation questions. Is it wise to manage your money as if it grew on a tree? Page 1
(30 minutes) Congratulations, you and your WYSE partner have just graduated college! You have just accepted your first entry level job and earn $1,500.00 net income per month. Please create a budget of expenses using the expense sheet provided (on the next page). You must work with your WYSE partner to come up with a budget together. This budget must be agreed upon by both you and your WYSE partner. You do not have to purchase each expense listed; however you must create a reasonable living environment using the price list provided. Here is a list of expenses to be used for the exercise. The list is not exhaustive, and you can add one miscellaneous expense to your budget. You also can choose to not use each expense for your budget. Your monthly budget must create a liveable working environment that both you and your WYSE partner agree upon. Develop a Monthly Household Budget Level Housing Cost/Mo. Food Cost/Mo. Savings Cost/Mo. Low Stay at home with parents $0 7 meals/week 0% of income $0 Mid Share a place with roommates $450 14 meals/week $200 10% of income $150 High Single room apartment $700 21 meals/week 20% of income Level Transportation Cost/Mo. Car Insurance Cost/Mo. Gas/Fuel Cost/Mo. Low Public transportation None $0 Included $0 Mid Used Car $200 High New Car Level Health Insurance Cost/Mo. Low No insurance $0 Mid High Low-cost health insurance; high deductible Private health insurance; low deductible $200 Level Clothing/Shoes Cost/Mo. Low Mid Low to no clothing allowance (buy from thrift stores; second hand) One outfit/3 months; one pair of shoes/6 months Car insurance w/deductible Car insurance w/o deductible Personal Care Items Toiletries, perfume, shampoo, etc. (Big Lots; Dollar Store) Toiletries, perfume, shampoo, etc. (Walmart) Toiletries, perfume, shampoo, etc. (mall; salon) Life Insurance Cost/Mo. $150 Use car very little; one tank/2 weeks Use car a lot; one tank every 3-4 days Utilities/Amenities Basic lights, heat, gas, no amenities Basic plus one amenity - internet, cable, cell/home phone Basic plus three amenities - cable, internet, alarm system, cell/ home phone $200 Cost/Mo. Cost/Mo. Entertainment Cost/Mo. None $0 None $0,000 policy Eat out one meal per 2 weeks & one week vacation/6 months $150 High One outfit/month; one pair shoes/month 0,000 policy Eat out 8x/month; 2 events/month Level Miscellaneous Items Cost/Mo. Description of Miscellaneous Items (Why?) Page 2
Lesson 6, continued Monthly Budget Work Sheet Expense Yes/No Need/Want Cost Why? Housing Food Transportation Entertainment Life Insurance Utilities/Amenities (includes cell phone) Car Insurance Gas/Fuel Savings Clothing/Shoes Personal Care Items Health Insurance Miscellaneous Items Total Monthly Budget $ Page 3
(30 minutes) Please answer the following questions about budgeting and finances. It is important that you talk to each other about each question and answer. The written response provided below should be short and simple. Once you have completed the list, you have completed your WYSE activity. Senior Mentor Response Questions about Finances Student Protégé Response Did you exceed your monthly budget? Why or why not? What items did you leave off completely? Discuss the wisdom of each decision. What level of savings is important to you? Why? Discuss insurance. What is its value? Page 4
Wisdom for Youth from Senior Expertise Thank you for completing Lesson 6: Show Me the Money Financial Literacy Lesson 7: To Be or Not To Be Values Please refer to your Contacts Section for the names of people who can provide helpful advice prior to your next visit to the senior mentor s community. In Lesson 7, you will generate an original piece of advice with your senior mentor. In Lesson 7, you and your mentor will discuss the importance of listening to advice and giving advice. In order to prepare for this lesson, please bring in three popular quotes or personal pieces of advice that you received from someone that you believe are good and true life lessons to be shared. Page 5