6 pages · Grades 5-12
National Budget Worksheet
A budgeting sheet that works for a national treasury or a personal monthly plan. Income, fixed costs, discretionary spending, reserves, and a variance column so students see the gap between plan and reality.
What's included
- • Monthly budget grid
- • Variance column
- • Reserve tracker
- • Personal finance version
How to use it
- • Plan the budget before the play session, record actuals after
- • Discuss the variance column, that is where the learning happens
- • Switch to the personal version at the end of the economics unit
Budget Planner
Plan first. Fill in actuals after the period ends, then calculate the difference.
Name: ______________________Date: ______________
Period
Total income
Taxes collected
Military upkeep
Infrastructure
Education
Other spending
Reserve at end
1. Where did your plan and your actuals differ most? Why?
2. What would you cut first if income dropped 20 percent?
3. What is one expense that is worth going into deficit for, and why?