This lesson is a 1 hour lesson. It focuses on “Making a budget“. The lesson is targeted at intermediate students but could easily be adapted to advanced students. This might be a 45 minute lesson for Advanced, depending on how many topics they come up with. The lesson focuses on speaking and pair/group work.

The lesson starts by introducing the topic and makes use of a variety of activities which require the students to make their own budgets using a pre-set monthly salary and dividing it up into a weekly budget. In the end, students present their ideas and other students ask questions to justify their budget.

This lesson requires no printed materials but there is a financial vocabulary worksheet which can be used if there is enough time. The lesson plan is given below.

Financial-Vocabulary-Worksheet-pdf

Introduction

Introduce the topic of budget and clear up its meaning. Write
it on the board and ask what a budget might be used for.

1. What is it for?
2. Do you use a budget in your daily life?
3. What could it be used for?
4. Is it a good idea to make a budget? Why/why not?

First Activity

After gathering a few suggestions, start brainstorming.

Example answers:

Second Activity

Weekly Budget Activity:

Using a monthly salary of 2000 dollars for a family of 4
students (in pairs or groups) must come up with their weekly
budget using all the categories they brainstormed. The monthly
salary can be adjusted for each country.
Example of a weekly budget: $2000/month = $500 a week.

Groceries: $150	Electricity: $5
Entertainment: $50	Water: $5
Trips: $50	Gas: $5
Coffee: $10	Fuel: $20
Eating out: 50$	Transportation: $20
Rent: $125	Phone: $10
Total:	500/week

This is not a perfect budget, but that’s part of the fun.

Third Activity

If there is time, these questions can be used at the end of the lesson:

1. Do you make a budget every month?
2. Do you always follow your budget?
3. Where do you spend most of your budget?
4. What are some ways to save money?
5. Would you ever date anyone who spends all their money
6. and doesn’t like saving? Why or why not?

That’s it!

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