Budgeting Basics for Teens: An Introduction to Managing Your Money (2024)

Budgeting Basics for Teens: An Introduction to Managing Your Money (1)

If you're like most teens, you're probably "money-in money-out" as far as your personal budget is concerned. You may get money from an allowance, a job, or from gifts, but how do you know how to balance your spending with your short, and long term, goals in mind? This introductory guide to budgeting basics aims to set the foundation for you to build a healthy financial future for yourself. Remember - it's never too early to get started!

By Steve Logan — March 13, 2024

Tags: high school, monthly budget, teens

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Budgeting Basics for Teens: An Introduction to Managing Your Money (2)

If you're like most teens, you're probably "money-in money-out" as far as your personal budget is concerned. You may get money from an allowance, a job, or from gifts, but how do you know how to balance your spending with your short, and long term, goals in mind? This introductory guide to budgeting basics aims to set the foundation for you to build a healthy financial future for yourself. Remember - it's never too early to get started!

In today's fast-paced world in which instant gratification is commonly expected, learning how to manage money is a crucial skill that often isn't emphasized enough in traditional high schools. As you progress through your teenage years, you begin to dip your toes into the realm of financial independence - where understanding the art of budgeting can be a lifelong game-changer.

When most people think about "budgeting," saving money is probably what pops into your mind. But budgeting is much more than that. It's about making informed decisions that empower you to live within your means, while still achieving your goals and dreams.

Let's get started! The first step to building your budget is to determine your income. For many teens, your income might come from part-time jobs, allowances, or gifts from family. Regardless of the source, it's essential to know exactly how much money you have coming in.

Once you know what your income is, it's time to tackle the other side of the equation - spending. This means keeping a record of every purchase, no matter how small and inconsequential it seems. Whether it's buying yourself some new clothes or shoes, an online or in-app purchase for your favorite game, or giving your friend $5.00 for gas money, it's essential to get into the habit of recording these expenses. Thankfully, there are plenty of apps that can make this easier for you, but even a simple notebook or spreadsheet will be just as effective.

Once you start recording and reviewing your spending, you may surprise yourself at some of your spending habits! The goal of tracking your spending is to be able to see where your money is going and recognize potential areas of savings.

Now that you know where your money is coming from - and where it's going-it's time to set some financial goals. Your goals could be short-term goals "like dinner and a movie with friends next weekend, or concert tickets going on sale soon," or long-term aspirations like saving for college. Once you identify your goals, you give your budget a purpose - which should help you make smarter spending decisions.

With all of that in place, it's time to set up your budget! Think about how you want to allocate your income between your "needs," and your "wants." As the name suggests, your needs are things that you need - clothes, transportation, school supplies, etc. Your "wants" would include purchases like entertainment and shopping. Finally, don't forget to set aside a portion of your income for savings. A good rule of thumb is the 50/30/20 rule, where 50% of your income goes to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings. Adjust these percentages as necessary to fit your personal financial situation and goals.

Now that you have set your budget and have a clearer understanding of your income and spending habits, it's especially important to practice discipline with your money, and to regularly review your budget. Get into the habit of reviewing your budget every two weeks or every month. You may need to adjust your budget to stay on track. Rather than viewing your budget as a restriction, see it as a tool to maximize your resources and achieve your goals.

By following these steps, teens can develop a financial mindset that promotes health, smart management, and independence. This guide will not only serve you throughout your teenage years but will also be a cornerstone for a lifetime of financial stability and success.

Budgeting Basics for Teens: An Introduction to Managing Your Money (3)

Steve Logan


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Budgeting Basics for Teens: An Introduction to Managing Your Money (2024)

FAQs

What is the 50 30 20 rule of budgeting? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals. Let's take a closer look at each category.

How much money should a 17 year old have in savings? ›

“A good rule to live by is to save 10 percent of what you earn, and have at least three months' worth of living expenses saved up in case of an emergency.” Once your teen has a steady job, help them set up a savings program so that at least 10 percent of earnings goes directly into their savings account.

What is the 50 40 10 rule? ›

What is 50 / 40 / 10 rule, how to use it and is the rule is good for you? The 50/40/10 rule budget is a simple way to budget that doesn't involve detailed budgeting categories. Instead, you spend 50% of your after-tax pay on needs, 40% on wants, and 10% on savings or paying off debt.

Is the 50 30 20 rule realistic? ›

For many people, the 50/30/20 rule works extremely well—it provides significant room in your budget for discretionary spending while setting aside income to pay down debt and save. But the exact breakdown between “needs,” “wants” and savings may not be ideal for everyone.

What is the 50 30 20 rule of budgeting basics where 50% 30% and 20% of monthly income goes toward ___________ respectively? ›

The 50/30/20 rule is a budgeting strategy that allocates your income into three distinct categories: 50% for needs, 30% for wants and 20% for savings and debt payoff. Making a budget is an important step in gaining control of spending and paying off debt.

What is the 40 40 20 budget? ›

The 40/40/20 rule comes in during the saving phase of his wealth creation formula. Cardone says that from your gross income, 40% should be set aside for taxes, 40% should be saved, and you should live off of the remaining 20%.

How much money should a 14 year old have? ›

Average allowance for kids and teens in 2022
AgeAllowance
12 years old$10.68
13 years old$11.78
14 years old$13.17
15 years old$14.89
11 more rows
Jun 27, 2023

What should an 18 year old pay for? ›

He or she can use this money to pay for a cellphone bill, a portion of car insurance and gas on your car, and as savings for his or her own car if he or she is driving. If kids are living at home at age 18 and older and are not in school, they should be paying rent — barring a tragedy or extenuating circ*mstances.

What is the average money for a 13 year old? ›

8 years old: $8 to $16 weekly. 10 years old: $10 to $20 weekly. 13 years old: $13 to $26 weekly. 15 years old: $15 to $30 weekly.

What is the 20 10 rule tell you about debt? ›

The 20/10 rule of thumb tells you to keep your debts below 20% of your annual take-home pay and below 10% of your monthly take-home pay.

What is the financial rule of 10? ›

The 10% rule is a savings tip that suggests you set aside 10% of your gross monthly income for retirement or emergencies. If you still need to start a savings account, this is a great way to build up your savings. You should create a monthly budget before starting your savings journey.

What does the 20 10 rule not apply to? ›

For example: Mortgages and real estate debts, unlike consumer debt, are considered “good debts”. A home is an investment, and a mortgage increases the equity with every payment you make. The 20/10 rule does not include your mortgage or rent.

Can you live off $1000 a month after bills? ›

Bottom Line. Living on $1,000 per month is a challenge. From the high costs of housing, transportation and food, plus trying to keep your bills to a minimum, it would be difficult for anyone living alone to make this work. But with some creativity, roommates and strategy, you might be able to pull it off.

How do you pay yourself first? ›

What is a 'pay yourself first' budget? The "pay yourself first" method has you put a portion of your paycheck into your savings, retirement, emergency or other goal-based savings accounts before you do anything else with it. After a month or two, you likely won't even notice this sum is "gone" from your budget.

What is loud budgeting? ›

Loud budgeting is a financial strategy that puts your money aspirations front and center for friends and family to see. “It's not, 'I don't have enough,' it's, 'I don't want to spend,'” said Lukas Battle, an internet personality. “It's about the everyday person.”

How much money should I have in my savings account at 30? ›

Fidelity Investments recommends saving 1x your salary by 30. At the end of 2021, the average annual salary was $49,920 for 25 to 34-year-olds and $58,604 for 35 to 44-year-olds. So the average 30-year-old should have $50,000 to $60,000 saved by Fidelity's standards.

What is the 50 30 20 rule financial experts recommend monthly savings of? ›

The 50/30/20 rule is a budgeting strategy that allocates 50 percent of your income to must-haves, 30 percent to wants and 20 percent to savings.

What is the pay yourself first strategy? ›

What is a 'pay yourself first' budget? The "pay yourself first" method has you put a portion of your paycheck into your savings, retirement, emergency or other goal-based savings accounts before you do anything else with it. After a month or two, you likely won't even notice this sum is "gone" from your budget.

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