This Math Monday, learn how to build a budget spreadsheet with the Financial Algebra lesson FA-4.4 Budgeting Tools. This lesson is a part of the Budgeting & Systems of Inequalities Unit, but it could also be a great way to teach a real-world skill when you have a day or two to fill in between units or days off. 

The Lesson

Students overview the budgeting apps they could use, practice writing budgeting equations, and then learn the basic spreadsheet skills they’ll need to create a custom budget spreadsheet.

In the Learn It section, students use a video walkthrough to create a basic spreadsheet. Then, they use that spreadsheet to complete a budget with sample expenses in the Practice It section. 

The Application

This lesson’s Application offers three different levels of complexity to practice budgeting with a spreadsheet. 

• Level 1: Students are given a near-complete budget template and practice adding equations and using it to answer real-life budgeting questions.
• Level 2: Students are given a budget template. Then, they input expenses, complete the spreadsheet with equations, and suggest how to make it a zero-based budget.
• Level 3: Students create their own 50-30-20 budgeting spreadsheet based on a set of criteria and receipts. 

Teaching Financial Algebra? We Would Love Your Feedback!

At the bottom of each lesson guide, you’ll notice an orange box asking for your feedback on the lesson. At the end of the lesson, please take a minute to complete the short survey; your feedback is important to us!Looking for more on budgeting tools? Check out RESEARCH: Online Tools and Apps!

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson

Kathryn (she/her) is excited to join the NGPF team after 9 years of experience in education as a mentor, tutor, and special education teacher. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in policy analysis and management and has a master's degree in education from Brooklyn College. Kathryn is looking forward to bringing her passion for accessibility and educational justice into curriculum design at NGPF. During her free time, Kathryn loves embarking on cooking projects, walking around her Seattle neighborhood with her dog, or lounging in a hammock with a book.