With a bit of imagination, a little money can go a long way! Learn how to budget, save, and spend wisely with Teen Breathe
From the latest snacks lining the supermarket shelves to whatever’s trending in fashion and tech, the world can seem full of shiny new things competing for your attention – and cash. Although it’s good to be in the know and try new things, by thinking differently about money and using your imagination, you can improve your finances while helping others at the same time.
The truth is, money is a tool that can do so much good in the world. Learning to think about it creatively can be powerful. Coming up with ways to raise even a tiny amount of money for a charity that interests you can make a positive difference in the lives of others. And squirrelling money away for something special like a visit to the city’s many attractions or a day trip with a loved one helps you build a bank of positive things to look forward to and happy memories to look back on fondly.
According to Louise, a finance expert, the amount you save doesn’t matter: ‘It can be $2 or $20 but having your own pot of money and learning how to budget, save, and spend it responsibly now can make such a difference to the way you feel about money in the future.’
— Jump to the thrifty PDF printable
1. Make and spend
One way to save is to think about the things you regularly spend money on and see if you can create a DIY version. Scour the kitchen cupboards and offer to make a week’s worth of snacks from scratch rather than buying them from the shops. Look through cookbooks, try our homemade snacks (see Issue 36), including no-bake chocolate coconut energy balls. You could even make crackers from grated leftover vegetables like sweet potato and carrot or, alternatively, slice them for some tasty oven-baked chips.
2. Go vintage
The kitchen’s not the only place you can cut corners. Next time you clear out your wardrobe, take a close look at those items you no longer want, like, or need. Are there a few that are good enough to sell? If so, ask a parent to place them on Marketplace for you, or perhaps an older sibling might be interested in hosting a garage sale with you. This can be a great way to earn extra cash as well as ensuring pre-loved clothes get another lease of life in someone else’s wardrobe.
And when it comes to buying clothes for yourself, try popping into vintage stores or op-shops instead of buying new. It’s great for the planet and your piggy bank.
3. Three jars
Having your own money to spend on the weekend or raising funds for something you believe in provides an enormous sense of satisfaction – especially when you can see the dollars piling up in front of you. A simple way to save is to separate pocket money or any money you earn or raise into three jars labelled spend, save, and give. You’ll be amazed at how the amounts add up over time if you stick to your plan.
4. Make it new
Set yourself a challenge to make something new from the recycling pile before it gets taken away every week. It could be turning an interesting jar into a pen holder, planting some kitchen herbs in spare yoghurt pots, or getting out the environmentally friendly spray paint to upcycle an old box into a place for storing treasures.
Whatever you choose to do, it’s a creative way of making you realise just how much gets thrown away and how rewarding it feels to refashion a discarded item into something you might otherwise have forked out for.
5. Vision board
Learning to value money for the good it can do is a key step in building a healthy relationship with it. What if you could forge a future where working towards an important goal was just as important as how much you earn?
You may want to spend a few minutes sitting still and thinking about your motivation before you begin. Get hold of a canvas or a blank sheet of paper, some scissors, and glue. Grab a pile of old magazines, put on your favourite music, and spend time making a vision board focusing on how you could use money in ways that would make a positive difference.
Cut out the thrifty images on page 39 of Teen Breathe 37, or download and print out the PDF below to get started.
