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. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

From Dispersed To Exile

Image
God allows 'life pauses' where moments that we are stopped dead on our tracks while he accomplishes His will.  It's not a comfortable place, but yet necessary.    There are many examples of this in the Bible, but it is one that we do not enjoy.  One key reason for this moment is God's expression of "tough love" (Prov. 3:11-12, Hebrews 12:4-11).    The Divided Kingdom of Israel and Judah sinned against God and they went to the place of no return (Isaiah 28-33; 2 Kings 17:16-20).  As a result, the Divided Kingdoms were shattered.   The Northern Kingdom Israel was dispersed by the Assyrian in 722 B.C. and the Southern Kingdom Judah was exiled by the Babylonians in 587 B.C.    In the midst of Israel's and Judah's life pause, God encourages three things:    Come back to God and renew your relationships with him.   Endure and thrive in the time of your exile. Look forward to the hope that is in Jesus.   DIDISCUSSI...
Read more

From Disoriented to United to Divided

Image
Lessons from the Old Testament Survey Class.   Today's lesson is about learning to understand that God has better plans for our lives.  That sometimes, our plans, no matter how good they are, are no better than God's plan.   Isaiah 55:8-9 says,  Let's consider three eras in our study today.  ERA # 1:  Disoriented People This was during the days of judges when God raised deliverers or judges in order to save His people.  The problem is that they kept on disobeying God and God was teaching them a lesson to trust Him.   The cycle of sin and repentance were lessonsyou will find in the book of Judges.   Another problem is that God's people were never content.  They wanted a king like the rest of the world.   This leads us to the next Era.   ERA # 2:  United Kingdom God granted Israel's request for a King despite His warning.  There were three kings that ruled one after the other and their live...
Read more

The Exile Returns

Image
God is always true to His promises.  He keeps His covenant to His people.   From Abrahams time until the Kingdom, they are a reflection of God's unfailing commitment to fulfilling His plan.    The exile is a momentary pause, and today, we examine the return of God's people back to the promised land.  In Ezra 1:2, it shared that King Cyrus allowed God's children to return to Jerusalem.   Finally, God's people's prayers are answered and the Jews experience a second chance as they return back to Jerusalem.  What would be your first bidding if you were in their shoes?  Unfortunately, it is easy to prioritize God and reciprocate.   Let's examine three responses of God's people.   I.  They renewed their Worship to Yahweh God's children return with Zerubabbel and reminding them that they need to ret return urn to God as they return to Jerusalem.  In your own reading, what was  II.  They restored their Wor...
Read more