In the story, Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday, Alexander receives a dollar from his grandparents that he plans to save, but he spends it all, a little at a time. In this lesson, students count by twos to fill a container with 100 pennies. They are asked whether 100 pennies is the same amount of money as one dollar. They listen to the story and as Alexander spends his money, students come up and remove the correct number of pennies from a container. At the end of the story, students are again asked if 100 pennies is the same amount of money as one dollar. Students discuss the choices that Alexander made and give advice on how he could save his money to reach his goal of buying a walkie-talkie.

Budgeting is the most basic and most important tool in anyone's financial toolbox. With this resource, students are given the hands-on opportunity to create budgets for fictional "Regan" during her sophomore year in nursing school, and, later, as a recent graduate with an apartment and a new car. Using either Microsoft® Excel or Google Docs, the students download our budgeting tool with space for their own budget, as well as the examples they created by establishing Regan's budget.

Students listen to a story about P.B. who thinks money is missing from the peanut butter jar on his window ledge. In addition to basic concepts of saving and spending, students learn currency equivalency and some measurement concepts.

As the Rolling Stones song says, "You can't always get what you want." So we make choices. Every day, governments and individuals choose how much money to spend and what to purchase. The January 2013 issue discusses opportunity costs and scarcity and how they effect our spending decisions.

Students research the features and costs of cell phones and cell phone plans and use a decision matrix to compare options and determine the best one for their needs, wants, and budget.

What is the debt ceiling that we keep hearing about? For that matter, what is the federal debt, where does it come from, and how big is it? Does the debt limit actually limit the debt? What would happen if Congress failed to raise the debt ceiling? And what does the debt limit have to do with tight pants?

Young children are not likely to think past their piggy banks when it comes to safe places to set money aside for those special items. In this short e-book from our Ella's Adventures series, they'll learn that a bank account offers security and a return on savings.

Young children are not likely to think past their piggy banks when it comes to safe places to set money aside for those special items. In this short course from our Ella's Adventures series, your students will learn that a bank account offers security and a return on their savings.

The FYE 105: Financial Literacy Curriculum Unit was developed for use in a First-Year Experience course to provide students with an understanding of: the relationship between human capital development and potential income and the chances of staying employed; budgeting; credit cards; and credit rights and responsibilities. The curriculum was implemented in an urban community college FYE course and was successful. We provide the curriculum for others who may wish to use it in a similar course.

The best part of making money is being able to spend it! In this section, we will talk about spending money, and share some resources to help you make good spending decisions.

It is important to find a balance between the money you spend on necessities, the money you save, and the money you can spend on whatever you want. The easiest way to differentiate is by making a budget. A budget is a way for you to determine how much money you need to spend per month on necessities such as rent and food, decide how much you wish to save, and then understand how much money you have left over to spend.

Using some form of credit is a necessity for most adults. Unfortunately, some misuse credit, and the consequences can be devastating. The earlier young people learn about credit, the more likely they are to use it responsibly as adults. In this short course from our Ella’s Adventures series, your students will learn what credit is, why people use credit, and how interest can affect the final cost of a good or service when bought on credit.

Students listen to the story, Glo Goes Shopping. They learn about saving, spending, decision making and opportunity cost. They learn to use a decision-making grid to make decisions. Mathematics skills include learning about rows and columns in a grid.

“How Daniel Got What He Wanted” is the fifth video in the Explore Economics animated series. It will help students understand that people have to save to get the things they want. Daniel wants a new bike helmet and must earn income and save to reach his goal.

In this 3 minute video, students are introduced to the concept of fiscal policy which takes place via taxes, spending and borrowing in an effort to ease the boom and bust cycles of the business cycle. This video will aid in the mastery of standard EPF. 5 and 7

Kiddynomics: An Economics Curriculum for Young Learners is a set of lessons designed to introduce young children to the economic way of thinking. Informed decision-making is a critical thinking skill that students can use throughout their school, personal, and work lives. And, as citizens in a democratic society, they should understand basic principles of how the economy operates. Beginning economic education early and building on that learning throughout students’ education is the best way to ensure they develop vital decision-making skills.

Students will compare the price of goods from one time period to another and through discussion and role play interpret the effects of inflation on consumers. They will categorize goods and services according to the eight major groups of the consumer price index and be able to determine the difference between the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the core CPI.

Students listen to the story Meet Kit about a young girl's life in America during the Great Depression. They learn through discussion and role-playing about the impact that unemployment and reduced consumer and business spending can have on people's lives.

Students listen to a story written in rhyme about a bunny who has a lot of money in her piggy bank. Students distinguish between spending and saving and goods and services. They play a matching game to review the content of the story and to practice rhyming words.

A public interest group claims that pharmaceutical companies overstate the costs of developing drugs because they include the foregone earnings from the money invested in drug development. The story can be used to discuss the concepts of opportunity cost and normal profit.

Students discuss the importance of emergency savings and play a game to explore connections between saving, spending, and unexpected expenses.