Free sample lesson · Grade 9 Financial Literacy · about 40 minutes
No login needed. A real lesson in the FI weekly format.
Goal
By the end of this lesson I can sort spending into needs and wants, make a simple weekly budget, and plan how to save for a goal.
1. Warm-up (5 minutes)
Write down how much allowance or money you get in a week, and what you spent it on last week. Do you know where all of it went?
2. Learn
- Needs – things you must have: fare, school supplies, food.
- Wants – nice to have: milk tea, game credits, new shoes when old ones are fine.
- Budget – a plan for your money before you spend it.
- Pay yourself first – put savings aside as soon as you get money, not “whatever is left”.
A simple rule for students: 50% needs · 30% wants · 20% savings (change it if your needs are higher).
Saving goal formula: weeks needed = goal ÷ savings per week.
3. Worked example: Jasmine, ₱700 a week
| Category | % | Amount | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needs | 50% | ₱350 | Fare ₱200, snacks ₱150 |
| Wants | 30% | ₱210 | Milk tea, load |
| Savings | 20% | ₱140 | For a ₱1,400 calculator |
Goal: 1,400 ÷ 140 = 10 weeks. If she saves ₱200 a week by cutting one milk tea, she reaches it in 7 weeks.
4. Try it yourself
- Need or want: jeepney fare to school? A second phone case?
- Ben gets ₱500 a week. Using 50/30/20, how much goes to savings?
- How many weeks to save ₱1,200 at ₱150 a week?
- What does “pay yourself first” mean?
- Name one way to reach a saving goal faster.
Show answers (parents)
- Fare is a need; a second phone case is a want.
- 20% of ₱500 = ₱100.
- 1,200 ÷ 150 = 8 weeks.
- Put savings aside first, as soon as you receive money, before spending.
- Spend less on wants, earn extra (e.g. selling crafts), or find cheaper options for needs.
5. Real life (10 minutes)
Make your own budget for next week using your real allowance. Choose one saving goal and calculate how many weeks you need.
6. Check your understanding
Explain the difference between a need and a want, with one example of each from your life.
For parents
Let your child make small money choices and small mistakes now. Share how your family budgets for bills in simple terms.
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