Loan expenses include money that you have borrowed and are expected to repay. This might be money from your neighbors, family members, savings group or a bank. Savings money will help you in the future to buy the things that you and your family need and want. You can also be prepared for unexpected events, such as illness or natural disasters. In addition, savings can help you meet your future goals. When deciding where to keep your savings, think of a place that is safe. Also, think of a place which would not tempt you to use it, but where you can get it when needed. For more information on savings, review lessons 6-8. 8. Activity: Prioritizing Spending– 30 minutes On the last page of the flipchart we discussed family needs and family wants. What is the difference between a NEED and something you WANT or desire? Add any of the following that are not mentioned: Things that you need help to keep you alive from one day to the next. We need food, water and a shelter over our head or stay alive. Things we want or desire may help us to be happier, but are not needed to say alive from one day to the next. Ask the group to list things a typical family would buy in a week. After 10-12 things are listed, assign each woman in the group one of the listed items. Examples might include medicine, clothing, food, transportation, shoes, alcohol, school fees, loans, chlorine (or other water purification tablets). Ask the women to group themselves into two groups. All the women who think the item they have been assigned is a NEED should stand in one group. All the women who think the thing they have been assigned is a WANT or DESIRE to stand in another group. There may be different interpretations of what is a NEED and a WANT. However, let the group decide by themselves. Then ask the women to rank the needs and rank the desires in order. This the needs make one row with the first person being the MOST IMPORTANT NEED, followed by the second most important need, followed by the third, etc.
Lesson 3: Making a Weekly Money Guide Caregivers will be able to choose how to spend her income, prioritizing family needs above family wants. Caregivers will be able to explain how a Guide affects decisions: A Money Guide helps caregivers know who much money they have to spend. Guides help families to spend their money on the needs first before spending on things they want. Guides help families to set aside money for savings before spending all that they’ve earned. Caregivers will use the Guide to help them make wise decisions about their spending. Materials: Attendance Registers Flipchart Fifteen pebbles (or bottle caps) and 8 leaves for each woman* Each brings her Money Guide Summary: Game: Money Count Attendance and Troubleshooting Ask About Current Practices Share the meaning of each picture on flipchart pages 22-29: Amina’s Expenses, Changing Monthly Expenses to Weekly Expenses, Amina’s Income, Amina’s Expenses and Savings and Using Your Money Guide. Activity: Making Spending Plan Discuss Barriers Practice and Coaching in Request Commitments 1. Game: Money Count — 10 minutes
Overcoming Pressure for Social Events (Picture 4.3) - 5 minutes 6. Share the Meaning of Each Picture – 10 minutes Ask the caregivers to describe what they see in the pictures on page 35. Read the captions on the flipchart out loud. Share the meaning of each picture using flipchart pages 34 and 35. Save money each week to prepare for large social events. · Begin saving money many months in advance. · Save a little each week so it will be easier to reach your goal. · Work an extra job to earn more money. Ask the family to reduce the money needed for large social events. · Talk with family about the need to use your money wisely. · Ask them to reduce the money needed for large events. · Offer only what you have saved. ? What other ideas do you have to overcome pressure from family? Changing the Money Guide (Picture 4.4) ─ 5 minutes 7. Share the Meaning of Each Picture – 10 minutes Ask the caregivers to describe what they see in the pictures on page 37. Read the captions on the flipchart out loud. Share the meaning of each picture using flipchart pages 36 and 37. Decide if the item is important enough to be to the Money Guide. · The picture of the hands represents “other” expenses. · are expenses that do not fit into the other categories. · Maria and her husband have added a category for their cousin’s wedding feast.