By thinking about their own expenses, students explore how differentiating between needs and wants can inform daily financial decisions and rules to live by.
Spend (Budgeting, Buying things)
CTE (Career and technical education), English or language arts, Social studies or history
High school (9-10), High school (11-12)
45-60 minutes
Big idea
Understanding the difference between needs and wants helps you to be strategic about your spending.
Essential questions
- How can you tell the difference between a need and a want?
- How does understanding the difference between needs and wants help inform your financial decisions?
Objectives
- Differentiate between needs and wants in daily spending choices
- Consider how needs and wants influence their spending decisions
What students will do
- Assess their own spending decisions by completing the “Reflecting on needs versus wants” worksheet.
Download activity
Teacher guide
cfpb_building_block_activities_reflecting-needs-versus-wants_guide.pdf
cfpb_building_block_activities_sobre-las-necesidades-y-los-deseos_guia.pdf
Student materials
cfpb_building_block_activities_reflecting-needs-versus-wants_worksheet.pdf
cfpb_building_block_activities_sobre-las-necesidades-y-los-deseos_tabla.pdf
Note: Please remember to consider your students’ accommodations and special needs to ensure that all students are able to participate in a meaningful way.
