Youth And Money

YOUTH NIGHT - Feb 2, 2017

Planning for the Future

A Lesson Taken from Money Matters for Youth - Everence

Objective

1. Developing an understanding of saving

Supplies

•  Student journals

•  Bible

Introduction

•  Invite students to create a page in their student journal to record things they are thankful for. On this “Thankfulness Journal Page” have students list five tangible items they are grateful for. Ask students to also list three intangible items they’re grateful for.

Spiritual Connection

•  Invite each student to share one of the items they had listed in either category in their student journal. Offer a prayer of thanks to God for these blessings.

Key Teaching Points

•  Solicit responses from students about why people “save” money. Make a list of these reasons on the board. What are some of the benefits of saving?

Explain to students that in financial terms there are usually three categories of saving: emergency fund, short term/replacement savings, and long term/retirement savings. The easiest way to save money is to make it part of the financial routine. When budgeting and paying bills, automatically set aside the portion that is designated for savings.

Having goals, both short- and long-term financial goals, also motivates saving. Ask students what kinds of financial goals they currently have. Invite them to record a short-term (iPod, new jeans) and a long-term (college, house down payment) in their student journal.

•  Ask students to define hoarding. Saving is wise planning for future expenses, both known and unknown. Hoarding is defined as secretly storing up or stockpiling. Have a student read Luke 12:15-21. Discuss how this passage relates to saving and hoarding.

•  Remind students that it is important to keep perspective when goal setting and saving. “Wealth will always be lost; either it leaves us while we live or we live it when we die.” (Matthew 6:19-21) Invite some students to read Psalm 49 aloud. Ask students to reflect on what this passage says about wealth and saving.

Activities

•  Invite students to brainstorm ways to save. Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a topic (Housing, Transportation, Food, Clothing, Entertainment). Ask each group to brainstorm ways to save money for their designated spending category. Have each group share highlights or particularly innovative ideas with the whole class.

Housing	Transportation
Renting	Sharing vehicles
Multiple families sharing a home	Buying older cars
Making a larger down payment	Not leasing vehicles
Not running the air conditioner	Biking/walking
Keeping the temperature set low in the winter	Using public transportation
Using compact fluorescent light bulbs	Keeping cars tuned up
Having newer windows	Limiting trips
Insulating attic space
Food	Clothing
Stick to the shopping list	Limit the amount of new pieces you buy
Use coupons	Shop sales
Buy store brand items	Shop at thrift stores
Buy bulk	Shop at consignment stores
Plant a garden	Limit brand shopping
Cut out junk food	Buy during the off-season
Buy sale items	Welcome hand-me-downs
Entertainment	Gifts
Limit eating out	Limit the amount you spend per person
Rent or borrow movies	Shop sales/off-season
Invite people to your home	Make gifts
Play board games/cards	Bake gifts
Tour local attractions	Honor the person through time together
Use parks	Give personalize coupons
Window shop	Do a name exchange instead of buying for everyone
Browse in a bookstore	Make your own cards
Use the library

•  For homework, assign students a Money Mentor Interview. Ask them to contact a person whom they admire for their financial savvy. Have students ask this “money mentor” for advice, tips, or anecdotes that would be helpful for young people to consider as they begin making significant financial choices. Students should type their findings as a one-page summary.