unit 7: Projected Budget independent practice: personal budget planning (10-20 minutes) oBjectiVe: StuDentS WiLL CreAte A PerSonAL bALAnCeD buDget bASeD on inCoMe AnD eXPenSeS. Let students know that the activity they just did together in small groups is applicable to a large variety of other situations. Creating budget plans can be helpful in managing a group's budget, such as for a party, and also for managing personal money matters. tell students that you'll be spending some time now creating personal budget plans in much the same way. Students should receive the " My Personal expenses Worksheet " handout. Students will fill in all of their personal expenses and then tell whether the expense was a want or a need. on the next page, students will create a balanced budget plan for themselves for the budget period of two weeks. give students time in class or for homework to complete these two worksheets. summary: next steps (5 minutes) oBjectiVe: StuDentS WiLL eXPLAin HoW FinAnCiAL AWAreneSS SuPPortS SeLF-ADVoCACY. After students have finished their budget forms, ask how many have a balanced budget. if there are students whose budgets are not balanced ask how they can modify their spending habits. impress upon them the importance of saving habits, and how exciting and gratifying it can be to watch your savings grow and accumulate over time. Discuss as a class: How can managing your money and being aware of where you are, financially, help you with your self-advocacy efforts? DIFFERENTIATION SUGGESTION Have students keep track of their expenses for a two-week period before this lesson so they'll have a realistic view of their expenses. LeSSon 31: bASiC buDgeting AnD FinAnCing StrAtegieS 295