Chapter 2: Money Buckets – Where Does Your Money Go?
LESSON GOAL
BY THE END OF THIS LESSON,
you’ll learn how to track your money each week so you know exactly how much you earned, spent, saved, shared, or invested. You’ll create your very own weekly money tracker and start building the habit of paying attention to your money — just like grown-ups do!
💬 let’s break it down
Have you ever felt like money magically disappears? One day you have $10, the next day… poof! You’re broke and wondering where it all went. 😅
That’s why money-smart people don’t just earn and spend — they track their money.
Tracking means writing down what’s coming in and what’s going out. It’s like keeping a journal for your dollars!
You can use a notebook, a printable, a spreadsheet, or even a whiteboard. The goal is simple:
Write down every time you get money
Write down every time you use money
Update your 4 buckets: Save, Spend, Share, Invest
The more you track, the more confident you’ll feel about your choices — and the faster you’ll reach your goals.
🧠 ANALOGY: Tracking Money is Like Keeping Score in a Game
Imagine playing a game with no score. You wouldn’t know who’s winning, what the goal is, or how to improve.
Tracking your money is like keeping score. It helps you see your progress, spot mistakes, and celebrate your wins!
Even if the score is small, it still matters — because you’re getting better every week.
🤔 critical thinking questions
Why do you think some people avoid tracking their money?
What might happen if you always spend without tracking?
How would tracking help you reach your bucket goals faster?
What’s one way you could make money tracking fun?
✍️ journal entry: “MY MONEY WEEK”
Think about this past week.
Did you get any money? Spend any? Save any?
Write down as much as you can remember — who gave you money, what you used it for, and how you felt about it.
Then write one sentence about what you want to do better next week!
👨👩👧👦 ACTIVITY WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS: Tracker Time
What You’ll Need:
A printed or hand-drawn money tracker (make 4 columns for Save, Spend, Share, Invest)
Pens or colored markers
A regular day each week (like Sunday night) to fill it out
What to Do:
At the end of each week, sit down with your family and review your tracker together.
Talk about what worked, what didn’t, and what you want to change.
Give a “Money Star of the Week” award for whoever tracked the most honestly or improved the most!
🎯 What This Teaches: Consistency matters more than perfection. Tracking your money builds awareness, confidence, and better choices over time.
💵 real-life practice: Start Your Weekly Money Tracker Now
Choose a tracker style you like:
Printable
Notebook
Dry erase board
Phone note (with help from a parent)
At the end of each day (or week), write:
💰 How much you received
💸 What you spent and on what
📦 How much went into each bucket
Do it every week for the next month and see how much more confident you feel!
🌟 Bonus: Add emoji or sticker rewards when you stay on track!
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Add a short summary or a list of helpful resources here.