Create a simple budget for a pretend allowance, dividing it into spend, save, and share categories, and explain the reasoning behind the choices.
A budget is a plan for money: how much you have, and how you decide to use it. A simple budget splits money into a few categories, such as SPEND (use it now), SAVE (keep it for something bigger later), and SHARE (give some to help someone else).
Deciding how to split money involves real trade-offs. Spending it all now feels fun immediately, but saving some means you can afford something bigger later. There is no single right split for everyone, but thinking it through on purpose, instead of just spending without a plan, is what makes it a real budget.
Mastery looks like: They can build a three-category budget that adds up correctly and explain the reasoning behind each choice.
Common stumbles: Splitting the amount without the parts actually adding up to the total, or picking amounts with no real reasoning behind them.