Wizardry of Wants Slides

WIZARDRY OF WANTS

Lesson 2: Needs vs. Wants

The Great Debate

Is a new video game a need or a want?

What about buying lunch if you forgot yours at home?

Team Need

"I can't survive without it!"

Team Want

"I'd love to have it, but I'll be okay."

The Categories

Needs

Things you MUST have to stay healthy, safe, and productive.

• Basic food & water
• Shelter/Housing
• Basic clothing
• Education supplies

Wants

Things that make life BETTER or more fun, but aren't essential.

• Snacks & candy
• Designer shoes
• Toys & games
• Movies & entertainment

Advanced Wizardry

Fixed Expenses

Costs that stay the SAME every time. (e.g., A monthly bus pass)

Variable Expenses

Costs that CHANGE based on your choices. (e.g., How many snacks you buy)

"Most Wants are variable expenses. You have the power to change them to save money!"

Week 1 Planning

1

Sort the items in the Need vs. Want Card Set.

2

Choose what to buy for Week 1 using your Budget Planner.

3

Record these choices into your Personal Ledger!

Needs and Wants Sorting Cards

Need vs. Want Sorting Cards

Cut along the dashed lines and sort into two piles!

School Lunch

Essential fuel for your brain while you learn.

$4.00

Game Expansion Pack

Unlocks new levels in your favorite game.

$12.50

Bus Fare

Needed to get to school and back safely.

$1.50

Ice Cream Treat

A delicious Friday afternoon snack.

$3.50

Notebook & Pen

Required for your weekly math project.

$2.75

Holographic Sticker

Very rare and looks cool on your binder.

$0.50

Birthday Gift (Family)

Essential for a family celebration.

$10.00

Movie Theater Ticket

A weekend trip to see the new blockbuster.

$8.50

NEEDS

Place cards that are essential here

WANTS

Place cards that are optional here

Curveball Slides

CURVEBALL!

Lesson 3: Navigating Financial Surprises

Sudden Change

You found a lost library book... but it's damaged.

You owe a $3.00 fine, but you only have $4.00 left for the week.

Life doesn't always go according to our budget plan. We call these Curveballs.

The Unplanned

Emergency Repairs

A flat bike tire or a broken shoe lace.

Social Costs

A last-minute birthday party invitation.

Human Error

Lost library books, late fees, or broken items.

The Recovery Map

1

Identify the cost immediately.

2

Check your current Balance.

3

Eliminate a Variable Want to cover it.

"Wants are the first to go!"

If you cut a want, you protect your savings goal.

Draw a Curveball

We are rolling the dice! Your teacher will hand you a Curveball Card.

RECORD IT

Add the expense to your ledger.

ADJUST IT

Cut a planned want for Week 3.

SAVE IT

Stay on track for your goal.

Curveball Challenge Cards

CURVEBALL CARDS

Expect the Unexpected

Library Fine

You found a lost library book in the bottom of your backpack, but it's overdue by two weeks.

-$3.00

Birthday Surprise

Your best friend just invited you to a last-minute birthday party! You need to buy a small gift.

-$8.00

Flat Tire

Oh no! Your bike has a flat tire. You need to buy a repair kit to get to school tomorrow.

-$5.50

Lost Umbrella

It's starting to rain and you can't find your umbrella. You have to buy a cheap poncho at the store.

-$2.25

Supply Tax

The price of school supplies just went up! Your weekly notebook now costs a little extra.

-$1.50

Lucky Find!

Wait! This is a good curveball! You found some loose change while cleaning your room.

+$1.75

How to use these cards:

1. Your teacher will assign you one curveball card (or you will draw one).
2. Record the transaction in your Personal Transaction Ledger immediately.
3. Recalculate your current balance.
4. If your balance is too low, decide which "Want" you will cancel to stay on track!

Cash Flow Checkup Slides

CASH FLOW CHECKUP

Lesson 4: Monitoring and Forecasting

The Halfway Point

"At your current speed of spending, will you have enough money left to buy your 'Big Goal' item?"

We've completed 2 weeks of our simulation. It's time to look at the Trends in your data.

Forecasting

Seeing the Future

Forecasting is using past data to predict what will happen in the future.

"If I keep spending $10 a week, I will have $20 less at the end of the month."

Equation

PAST + PLAN = FUTURE

Detective Work

Inflow Trends

• Is your income steady? (e.g., Every Friday)
• Have you had any "bonus" income?

Outflow Trends

• What is your biggest "Want" expense?
• Are you spending more in Week 1 or Week 2?

The Course Correction

If your forecast shows you won't meet your goal, you must PIVOT.

Analyze

Complete the Mid-Month Review Worksheet.

Adjust

Rewrite your spending plan for Weeks 3 and 4.

Mid Month Checkup Worksheet

MID-MONTH CHECKUP

Forecasting & Course Correction

Mission Phase

Data Analysis

Student Name:

Current Balance:

Part 1: Data Roundup

Total Income (Weeks 1-2)

$

Add all your "Income" entries from Day 1 to Day 14.

Total Expenses (Weeks 1-2)

$

Add all your "Expense" entries from Day 1 to Day 14.

Cash Flow Trend

"Is more money coming in or going out?"

Positive

Negative

Part 2: The Forecast

1. What is the cost of your "Big Goal" savings item?

$

2. Prediction: At your current rate of spending, will you reach that goal by Day 28?

Yes, definitely!

It's going to be close.

No, I'm spending too much.

Part 3: Course Correction

List two "Wants" you planned for Weeks 3 or 4 that you could cancel to save more money:

01

02

"Every dollar you don't spend is a dollar closer to your Big Goal."

Savings Summit Slides

SAVINGS SUMMIT

Lesson 5: Celebration & Reflection

The Final Balance

It's time to close your Personal Transaction Ledger.

Success!

You reached your "Big Goal" and had a positive balance.

Lessons Learned

You missed your goal or had a deficit. What will you do differently next time?

The Trade-Off

"What was the hardest thing you had to say 'NO' to in order to save that money?"

The Snacks

The Games

The Toys

Mission Mastery

1

Small daily choices become big future results.

2

A Ledger is a map that keeps you from getting lost.

3

Expecting curveballs makes you a financial wizard.

"You are now a Money Map Master!"

What will you save for in Real Life?

Thank you for completing The Money Map.

Mission Debrief Worksheet

MISSION DEBRIEF

Final Financial Reflection

Student Name:

Final Balance:

Part 1: The Savings Goal

Did you meet your Big Goal? (Check one)

YES!

I have enough money left.

NOT YET.

I need more time or better choices.

If you met your goal, how much money do you have left over?

$

Part 2: Trade-Off Analysis

"To save money for my goal, I decided NOT to buy..."

"The hardest choice I had to make during this simulation was..."

Part 3: Future Strategy

What is one thing you would change about your spending habits in real life?

Mission Complete