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Future-Ready · Financial Literacy
Make a Budget & Pay Yourself First
A budget plans your money — income comes in and splits into NEEDS, WANTS, and SAVINGS. Pay yourself first!
🫙Where Your Money Goes: Split It Into 3 Jars
A budget is just a plan for every dollar: $2 to savings first, $5 to needs, $3 to wants — it all adds up to your $10 income.
⭐ SAVINGS
Money you tuck away before spending — for a bigger goal or an emergency later.
🥪 NEEDS
Things you must have to live — food, a home, basic clothes.
🎮 WANTS
Fun extras you'd like but can live without — games, candy, toys.
🧺Sort It Out: Need or Want?
✅NEEDS — must have
Without these you can't stay healthy and safe. Pay for needs before wants.
🛒 Fund these every time
✨WANTS — nice to have
Fun, but you can wait or skip them. Buy wants only after needs and savings.
😄 Treats when there's money left
🐷Pay Yourself First: Save Before You Spend
🐷 Save first, spend what's left
Pay yourself first: the moment money arrives, put your savings aside before anything else.
Then spend: use what's left on needs, then wants — and don't dip into savings.
Why it works: savings grow steadily because you never "forget" them at the end.
🔑Key Terms
🗒️Budget A plan for how you'll use your money — what comes in and where it goes.
💵Income Money that comes IN — like an allowance, a gift, or pay for a job.
🧾Expense Money that goes OUT when you buy or pay for something.
🥪Needs Things you must have to live and stay safe — food, a home, basic clothes.
🎮Wants Extra things you'd enjoy but can live without — games, candy, toys.
🐷Pay Yourself First Set aside savings the moment money arrives, before you spend any of it.
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Remember: a budget gives every dollar a job. Pay yourself first, cover your needs, then enjoy your wants — and watch your savings grow!