The NatWest budget game guidebook

The NatWest budget game guidebook

1. L et’s play https://natwest.mymoneysense.com/students/students-8-12/the-budget-game/ If you need a money boost get yourself playing this NatWest Budget Game A budgeting game for teenagers. natwest.mymoneysense.com/students/students-8-12/the-budget-game

2. -> Keep an eye on your cash in hand, weekly expenses, spending habits and saving goals. https://natwest.mymoneysense.com/students/students-8-12/the-budget-game/ -> Do not run out of money. -> At the same time, keep your wellbeing score high.

3. L et’s play https://natwest.mymoneysense.com/students/students-8-12/the-budget-game/ Can you manage your money for three months? There are bills to pay, food and travel to budget for, plus loads of fun things to spend your money on. Get it right and your happiness will soar, but spend too much and you’ll have a financial headache! Press New to start the game Choose your difficulty level Choose your currency

4. L et’s play https://natwest.mymoneysense.com/students/students-8-12/the-budget-game/ Pick three things that describe you to get extra help in the game.

5. L et’s play https://natwest.mymoneysense.com/students/students-8-12/the-budget-game/ Pick three hobbies

6.    Many money problems arise because many do not have a clear picture of what they want to do with their money and therefore spend it randomly, without much thought. How do you describe yourself? What are your goals , ambitions, hobbies? What are your weaknesses? What are your faults? Do you spend all your pocket money / salary at one go? Are your goals and ambitions clear enough to help you build your plan?   The next step forward in financial goals setting is thinking about how much you need to save, for how long and how you will accumulate those savings . Who are you? What do you enjoy doing? What are your financial aims? Financial Aims l ong-term short-term

7. L et’s play https://natwest.mymoneysense.com/students/students-8-12/the-budget-game/ Important Info – both in the game and in life In NatWest Budget Game , a situation is provided where you are guided towards: Your take-home salary –> actual cash taken home Your fixed expenses –> rent; home loan; Your remaining balance –> the amount you have left after you pay your fixed expenses This can be spent on food, transport, activities and items you want to buy. Another important note to remember is that bills like water and electricity bills might change, depending on their usage, so they are not fixed, but they still need to be paid before you spend money on activities and items that you want. Also, items such as food, toiletries, and cleaning products are necessary too.

8. L et’s play https://natwest.mymoneysense.com/students/students-8-12/the-budget-game/ (1) (2) How to play

9. L et’s play https://natwest.mymoneysense.com/students/students-8-12/the-budget-game/ (3) (4) How to play

10. L et’s play https://natwest.mymoneysense.com/students/students-8-12/the-budget-game/ (5) (6) How to play

11. L et’s play https://natwest.mymoneysense.com/students/students-8-12/the-budget-game/ reading the weekly messages watching your spending c hecking what you need to buy, sell and repair s electing three activities a week, three food choices and three travel choices a week (same activities can be chosen) Look for exclamation marks! Look for information on the right hand side Playing the game consists of: Watch your monthly available balance what you own less your fixed expenses Information include fun, health, comfort and costs. Sports add you to your overall holistic growth.

12. L et’s play https://natwest.mymoneysense.com/students/students-8-12/the-budget-game/ Food Expenditure Take note of the costs. Are you spending money unnecessarily on food?

13. L et’s play https://natwest.mymoneysense.com/students/students-8-12/the-budget-game/ A recap Click onto to proceed to the following week W eekly messages provide you with tips and advice.

14. The Inventory Things to think about Remember that to use a car, you need to have bought a car, to go to the gym, you need to buy a gym membership, to go for a walk, you need to have walking shoes, to use a bicycle, you need to own one.. And so on In life, open your eyes to unusual and infrequent spending habits. Can they be reduced or eliminated entirely? Also, think of best alternatives to save money.

15.    How often do you check your cash balances? Are you awaiting m iddle age ( commencing at about 40 years) or when you get serious about your career to start calculating and managing your cash balances? Your cash in hand and money at the bank Do you look at your cash / bank balances only when you fall short at the end of the month ? https://gemma.gov.mt/what-is-a-budget/ Having trouble distinguishing between your needs and wants ? - https://gemma.gov.mt/needs-and-wants/ Have you ever bought things on the impulse of a moment and then feel guilt or regret for having done that purchase? https ://gemma.gov.mt/?s=impulse+buying&lang=en Start managing cash finances without delay.

16.    For teenagers (13-17): go for healthy shopping choices – not costly, yet healthy and filling. help in the preparation of meals for the whole week rather than relying on expensive last-minute salty fatty take- aways . d o not throw away your home-made lunches to buy snacks. r ead about healthy eating - fast-food meals are high in fat and sodium and low in fiber and nutrients. For those in their late teens: make a weekly menu plan using inexpensive ingredients in various ways (there are helpful free applications you can use) set aside enough time to prepare lunches, snacks and meals – let’s say Saturday afternoon or Sunday mornings, take your own sandwiches or a salad other than junk fatty salty foods that lead to other problems such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetics among others Reduce the intake of junk food and take-away food. How to cut down on convenience foods? Junk foods are unhealthy, costly and short term snacks. You are hungry again in no time.

17. Your NatWest Budget Game Some expenses are essential expenses – needed, yet overspending starts gradually and everyday little things end up costing more over time. H ow you spend your money is based on choices you make and priorities that you identify . Activities, food and transport might in reality be more costly than those in the game. However, NatWest Budget Game is a game that helps you instill better money habits to improve your health and life style. Concerns and awareness are great but action is essential and it's never too early nor too late to start caring for your finances, even at a very young age. L et’s play https://natwest.mymoneysense.com/students/students-8-12/the-budget-game/

18. Imply effective money management techniques.    Money management is not something that will happen by accident. You must work towards it.