When I’m considering different ways to save money from my allowance, help me to learn about budgeting through interactive games or activities, so that I can understand the value of saving and spending wisely.
In his room, Ryan, an energetic 10-year-old, was surrounded by his favorite toys, comic books, and a piggy bank that seemed a bit emptier than usual. Ryan loved splurging on new comic books and toys, but lately, he noticed his allowance always disappearing too quickly.
Usually, Ryan would spend his allowance on the latest comics or the coolest toys he could find. But as he saw his piggy bank getting lighter and his wish list growing longer, he realized he needed a new plan. The old way just wasn’t helping him save for the things he really wanted.
Inside Ryan’s head, there was a shift happening. His quick, impulsive decisions about spending money weren’t working anymore, especially with prices going up. This made room for another part of his brain, the one that thinks carefully, to start kicking in. This was Ryan’s Step 1 moment, realizing he needed to change things up.
“Do I need to rethink how I use my allowance?” Ryan wondered. “How much should a kid my age save?” These thoughts showed his Deliberate System was starting to take over.
Seeing Ryan’s struggle, his dad stepped in to help. Together, they dove into Step 2, learning about the dangers of overspending and the rewards of saving. They talked about why it’s important to save and how money adds up over time. Ryan got excited when he realized saving could help him get the bike he wanted by summer. With his parents’ support, he felt ready to give it a try.
Using what he learned in Step 3, Ryan and his dad came up with goals. “I want to learn to manage my allowance and save up for things I really want,” he decided. They searched for games that made learning about money fun and engaging. With summer only four months away, Ryan was determined to save up for that bike.
In Step 4, they ranked the games based on what mattered most to Ryan. They chose one that balanced fun with learning, knowing saving was more important than buying toys.
Before he started, Ryan did one last check in Step 5 to make sure he was ready to give up his weekly toy splurges for a bigger goal. With his dad’s guidance, he felt confident to move forward.
With his dad’s help, Ryan started playing the budgeting game regularly, learning about managing money and the power of saving. They set up a plan in Step 6, with a calendar to check his budget weekly and track his savings daily.
During Step 7, Ryan put the game lessons into action, making smart choices about spending and setting aside money to save. He kept track of his spending and watched his savings grow.
As time passed, Ryan realized he needed to adjust his plan in Step 8. His savings weren’t growing fast enough. So, with his dad’s advice, they decided to increase his allowance in exchange for more help around the house. A few weeks later, they reviewed his progress and saw he was back on track for that big bike purchase.
Excited about his progress, Ryan shared his experience with his friends, telling them about his game and the importance of saving.
His journey from impulsive spending to thoughtful saving showed the power of using Deliberate System thinking when it comes to money. And his soon-to-be bike was proof that it really pays off to plan ahead.