Budgeting Basics

Making a budget keeps your spending on track. Learn to prioritize must-haves first and make smart tradeoffs to reach your goals.

Shopping basket graphic

Ready to learn about budgeting?

It's like having a game plan for your money, and it's super important for reaching your goals. Let's dive in!

Why Budgeting Rocks:

It helps you spend smart and save more
You can plan for fun stuff without breaking the bank
It teaches you to make cool choices with your cash

Budgeting Basics:

Know how much money you have to spend
List out everything you need to buy
Prioritize the must-haves
Make smart choices to stay within your budget

Your Mission: Plan Kate & Vicky's Party

Kate and Vicky want to throw an awesome party, but they only have $50 to spend. Can you help them plan a great celebration without going over budget?

3 people at a birthday party

Here's what to do:

Look at the party items and their prices
Click to add items to the cart
Keep an eye on your total - remember, $50 is the limit!
If you go over budget, you can remove items
Try different combinations to get the most party fun for $50

Plan Kate & Vicky’s Party

Balloons

Cake

Ice Cream

Pinata

Pizza

Invitation

Candy Jar

Streamers

$0

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Nice Work!

Now you're ready to party on.

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Uh oh, over budget!

Click any items to remove them and get back on track.

Pro Budgeting Tips:

Always start with the must-haves (like food for the party)
Look for ways to save (maybe balloons instead of a piñata?)
It's okay to make tradeoffs - that's part of smart budgeting!

Remember, budgeting isn't about limiting fun - it's about making smart choices so you can do more of what you love! Use these skills for your next adventure, whether it's a party, a trip, or saving up for something cool.

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