Zlatka.in (L2)

“Plan Your Budget!” is an interactive competitive program and educational tool aimed at developing financial literacy among primary and secondary school students, as well as their parents and teachers. The program was created to connect theoretical knowledge about money with practical experience, demonstrating to participants how to plan and manage personal or family budgets effectively. The game simulates real-life financial situations, providing a safe environment in which students can experience the consequences of their decisions without facing actual financial losses. “Plan Your Budget!” is part of broader financial education initiatives supported by the “Financial Literacy in Schools” and “Entrepreneurship.cz” projects.

Key Activities and Participant Experience
Players are introduced to everyday financial situations, such as grocery shopping, utility bills, transportation, leisure activities, and saving for future needs. During the game, they must decide how to allocate available resources to meet immediate needs, investments, savings, or insurance, while responding to randomly generated life events, such as income loss, health complications, or unexpected expenses. This combination of predictable and random scenarios allows participants to observe the direct impact of their financial decisions and understand how these choices affect long-term household stability. Players develop the ability to analyze trade-offs between short-term consumption and long-term planning, evaluate the risks of various financial decisions, and identify optimal solutions.

Program Features and Principles

Core principles of the program include critical thinking, planning skills, responsible decision-making, and an ethical approach to finances. The program encourages collaboration, communication, and compromise. Its flexible design allows teachers to adjust content and difficulty to suit the specific needs of their class or age group, while also enabling progressive increases in complexity so participants can learn at their own pace and develop more advanced financial skills.

Methodology and Structure
The game is divided into several phases, gradually increasing the complexity of financial decisions. In the first phase, participants are introduced to the basic principles of household budgeting, learning to track income and expenses and distinguish between essential and discretionary costs. The second phase focuses on planning, saving, investing, and managing financial reserves. Students learn to anticipate the short- and long-term impacts of their decisions and apply the principle of balancing immediate needs with future goals. In the final phase, participants face random scenarios and crisis situations that require rapid, strategic decision-making. This progression fosters systematic thinking, the ability to learn from mistakes, and the evaluation of decision outcomes. The program allows for immediate reflection, as participants observe the direct results of their choices and discuss various approaches and strategies with teachers or peers.

Expected Outcomes and Value
Upon completing the program, participants gain a comprehensive understanding of fundamental household financial management principles. They learn to plan income and expenses, evaluate investments, savings, and insurance products, and understand the long-term consequences of their financial decisions. The program develops critical thinking, independent decision-making, strategic planning, and teamwork skills. Students acquire practical competencies that can be immediately applied in their personal lives, build confidence in handling financial situations, and cultivate a responsible approach to money.