Step 1: Practice budgeting for what you value[]
Your budget is more than just a way to track your money – how you choose to spend your money shows what’s important to you. In a way, it’s a statement of your values. For example, if healthy living is important to you, you may want to budget for a gym membership or exercise class. If music is your passion, you may choose to save for music lessons or a musical instrument – or earmark money to buy your favorite tunes. If you have a favorite cause, you may wish to give money to an organization that supports it.
CHOOSE ONE:
Create a team values list. Have a discussion with your Cadette friends. How does your group handle its money? How much do you want to put aside in each of the three categories (health, entertainment, charities)? This is a good time for some forward thinking. Is there something special you could see putting money toward in the future? You don’t need to make a plan just yet, but it never hurts to start collecting thoughts about your future spending plans so you can be ready when the time is right.
OR
Make your own values list. Write a list of all the things you’d like to have or do that cost money. Something new for your home? Check. Nice gifts for your friends and family? Check. A regular donation to a cause in which you believe? Check. Make the list as long as you like. Then, take a serious look at what you’ve written and group the items into categories: must have; nice but not necessary; or not really important to me. Sit down with family or friends and talk about how you’d like to use your money.
Step 2: Learn to track your spending[]
To come up with a budget that works, you need to know where your money goes. Without tracking your spending, it’s all too easy to forget about that slice of pizza you bought or the fingernail polish you purchased for a friend’s birthday.
CHOOSE ONE:
Get on the “write” track. Document your spending habits by keeping a log for a week. Make a note every time you make any purchase, including what you bought, how much it cost, and anything that might have influenced your decision to buy it. For example, did you buy a bracelet because you were with your friends and they were all buying bracelets? Did you splurge on a packet of cookies because you were hungry? Or, did you impulsively buy your best friend a present because you were in a great mood? After a week, go over your log and note any patterns about when and why you buy things.
OR
Spot spending habits. Once you’ve started to track your spending, sit down with your Girl Scout friends or family members to discuss your spending habits. This is the best way to spot patterns and provides a starting point for areas to cut spending. You can, also, do this by yourself; simply go over your record keeping and write down or highlight repeated spending trends.
Step 3: Find out about ways to save money[]
Keeping a bank account is one popular way to save money. You can, also, put your money in a personal bank at home.
Step 4: Explore different ways to give[]
Lending a hand to someone in need is a surefire way to feel good about yourself. Find out what you can do with your money to benefit others. You don’t need to make any giving decisions just yet, but your research might inspire you to include the needs of others into your budget and financial planning.
CHOOSE ONE:
Lead with your heart. Think of three things that are important to you. Then, research causes that touch on that interest. Maybe your family pet makes the list. Is there an animal shelter that could use our help? Be creative; there are lots of opportunities to give.
OR
Team up with others. Gather a few friends or family members to discuss different ways to donate money. For example, you could make a donation as part of your Take Action project. Or, if there’s an organization you want to help financially, find out how it would use the funds. Compare and contrast – what does your group think would be the most effective use of your money?
Step 5: Create a budget that focuses on your values[]
It’s time to make some big decisions. For what will you budget? What things will go into your spending and saving categories? And, to what will you be giving money? This is the joy of having a budget – it helps you take charge of your money and put it to good use.
CHOOSE ONE:
Make a savings action plan. Decide on something you’d like to save money to buy. Find out how much your chosen future purchase will cost. That will be the amount you need to save to reach your goal. Then, do the math: If you have a certain amount you can put away each week or month, how long will it take to reach your goal? Or, if you know you want to reach your goal in a certain amount of time, how much will you have to save each week/month to reach your goal in that time?
OR
Imagine yourself in the future. Envision your life 10 years from now. What do you think you’d need to buy? For what big purchases would you like save? How much would you like to be able to give? Create a practice budget so you can begin to see how you might use your money in the future.
Sample Budget
Suppose you received a gift of $100 to spend however you wanted. How do you think you would spend it? There are three possible examples of ways a girl might budget the money in your book. What values do you think are reflected by each group of choices? In the fourth row, write how you would budget your surprise $100.