Financial Responsibility and Young Women

We all know that financial matters are nothing to take lightly. We, as a Young Women’s Presidency, felt that learning to budget, pay bills, file taxes and save money are skills that MUST be taught to the youth. Using the church publications One for the Money and All is Safely Gathered In,  and with the help of an H&R Block tax preparer (to help explain the ins and out of taxes) we decided to help the girls understand the importance of these values!

SO - this past Wednesday for mutual we came up with a game for the Young Women to learn about some financial responsibility. We based it off of the board game “Payday”. When we talked about this game during a presidency meeting we all thought the game would have been enough – BUUUUUUT- once I bought the game I realized it didn’t exactly portray the message that we wanted. The game is based on buying businesses and making deals – along with some gambling. Not exactly appropriate for a church activity.

So we came up with our own! I made cards to cover the board spaces.

 

With Spaces for Payday (everyone’s favorite), grocery shopping, mail days (when the bills come) and TAX day!!!

So of course on mail days they had to get SOMETHING in the mail… and what most people get in the mail is? BILLS!!! Yes, this game is all about budgeting your money and saving for things you want! I had a FUN time coming up with these bills! Waters of Life Water Company! Upon the Rock Realty! Word of Wisdom Health Insurance! Arise and Shine Light Company! All located on Narrow Path Way!!! I think I went overboard with it – but that’s ok!!!

Check out the girls playing!!! Thanks Jenn for the pictures!!!

Kristyn looks engrossed in her budget!

Keara looks a little stressed about filing her taxes!!! Thankfully we had a representative from H&R Block there to help her out when she got stuck!!!

So even though the girls were a little leery about playing this game it turned out pretty good and they seemed to enjoy it! WHEW – Jenn and I both thought this would have been a bust!

As a treat we gave the girls a handout that said “You don’t have to earn a 100 Grand to make a Payday count” then attached a snack sized 100grand and payday candy to it! (sorry no pic – I ate the candy before I could snap a shot of it – DOH!!!)