|
Activity 32: Counting Your Pennies
OBJECTIVE: Help families think about what is most important to them, learn to compromise and come to general agreement on spending priorities.
TIME: 60 minutes
MATERIALS:
- Spending Categories Handout
- Cut out each category on the four-page handout into spending decision squares and place the set of squares in an envelope
- Prepare one envelope per group
- 20 pennies per group
NOTE TO TRAINER: This activity can be conducted individually, in pairs, or in a small group situation of 3-5 people. Each group considers themselves a family.
ACTIVITY: Divide the class into teams of 3-5 people. Give each group 20 pennies and one each of the 16 spending sheets (including 2 blank sheets). Groups will be asked to decide together how the pennies are spent. Explain that each group has a maximum of 20 pennies to allocate across all of the spending categories. Ask them to please choose at least one item in each category, i.e., they cannot leave a category blank. Moreover, if they think of other categories or responsibilities that are not covered by the choices, blank spending sheets are provided to add these categories. Ask them to list choices and the amount of pennies allocated for each item.
If there is time after completing the first round, ask the team to assume that one of the members of the household had a sudden loss of income. Have the groups try this exercise again with 14 pennies.
Participants can be encouraged to go home and play the game with their families.
GROUP DISCUSSION: Ask each group to talk about their spending decisions as an entire class.
What different choices did groups make?
How did they negotiate differences of opinion within the group regarding spending priorities?
How can they work with their family at home to negotiate a budget?
HANDOUT: Spending Categories
| Transportation |
PENNIES |
| Walk or bike. |
0 |
| Ride the bus or join a carpool. |
1 |
| Buy fuel for family or own vehicle. |
2 |
| Buy and insure used vehicle. |
3 |
| Buy and insure new vehicle. |
4 |
| Utilities--Heat/Light |
PENNIES |
| Included in rent. |
0 |
| Cost shared by roommates. |
1 |
| You pay total cost. |
2 |
| Utilities--Phone |
PENNIES |
| No phone. |
0 |
| Phone w/limited long distance calls. |
1 |
| Phone w/many long distance calls. |
2 |
| Clothing |
PENNIES |
| Wear present wardrobe. |
0 |
| Use your sewing skills. |
1 |
| Buy at discount store or thrift shop/used clothing store. |
2 |
| Buy at a department store. |
3 |
| Shop for designer clothes. |
4 |
| Grooming |
PENNIES |
| Home haircuts. |
0 |
| Generic grooming products. |
1 |
| Professional haircuts, selected grooming products. |
2 |
| Buy at a department store. |
3 |
| Hair styled and processed, name-brand grooming products. |
4 |
| Housing |
PENNIES |
| Live with relatives or in public housing. |
1 |
| Share apartment or house with others. |
2 |
| Rent a place of your own. |
3 |
| Buy a home. |
4 |
| Food |
PENNIES |
| Provided by relative or included in housing costs. (room and board) |
0 |
| Cook at home; dinner out once a week. |
2 |
| Frequent fast food lunches, and weekly dinner out; cook other meals. |
3 |
| Purchase all meals away from home. |
4 |
| Recreation |
PENNIES |
| Walking, playing with kids, yard work, reading. |
0 |
| Television, visits with friends, and picnics. |
1 |
| Cable television, sports, and movies. |
2 |
| Insurance--House/Apartment |
PENNIES |
| No coverage. |
0 |
| Covered under family or roommate's policy. |
1 |
| Pay for property and liability coverage. |
2 |
| Insurance--Health and Disability |
PENNIES |
| No coverage. |
0 |
| Access to free public healthcare. |
0 |
| Fringe benefits of job. |
1 |
| Group coverage (school or job). |
2 |
| Individual coverage (you pay). |
3 |
| Childcare |
PENNIES |
| Provided at work. |
0 |
| Provided by family member or friend. |
0 |
| Hire sitter on limited basis. |
1 |
| Pay for full-time day care. |
2 |
| Gifts |
PENNIES |
| Make your own. |
0 |
| Purchase cards and small gifts on special occasions. |
1 |
| Purchase frequent gifts for everybody. |
2 |
| Savings |
PENNIES |
| Change in piggy bank. |
0 |
| A set amount each month. |
1 |
| A set amount each week. |
2 |
| Other: |
2 |
| Furnishings |
PENNIES |
| Borrow from relatives or friends. |
0 |
| Rent furniture or live in furnished apartment. |
1 |
| Buy at garage sale or thrift shop. |
1 |
| Buy new furniture. |
2 |
| Laundry |
PENNIES |
| Do laundry at home of friend or relative. |
0 |
| Use facilities in apartment or public housing. |
1 |
| Use laundromat; some dry cleaning. |
1 |
| Rent or purchase washer and dryer. |
2 |
| Category: ________________ |
PENNIES |
| |
0 |
| |
1 |
| |
2 |
| Category: ________________ |
PENNIES |
| |
0 |
| |
1 |
| |
2 |
| Category: ________________ |
PENNIES |
| |
0 |
| |
1 |
| |
2 |
| Category: ________________ |
PENNIES |
| |
0 |
| |
1 |
| |
2 |
| Category: ________________ |
PENNIES |
| |
0 |
| |
1 |
| |
2 |
| Category: ________________ |
PENNIES |
| |
0 |
| |
1 |
| |
2 |
Based on an activity created by Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service and adapted by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition.
| 
Get Adobe Acrobat Reader