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Description

Beavers will be given a small, fixed budget of "Beaver Bucks" (tokens) to purchase a snack.
The catch is that the available items are split into two categories: **Needs** (the essentials for a basic snack) and **Wants** (extra treats).
They must first ensure they have the essentials before they can spend on the extras, prompting a conversation about spending wisely and prioritizing.

Bartering within their Lodge groups will add an element of decision-making and negotiation.

Resources

Beaver Bucks: Simple tokens, counters, or poker chips (e.g., 5 tokens per Beaver).
Signs: Clearly labelled signs for the "Needs Shop" and the "Wants Shop."

The Goods:
Needs (Essentials/must haves):
-- Plain water/squash in a small cup (Cost: 2 Beaver Bucks)
-- One plain biscuit (Cost: 2 Beaver Bucks)

Wants (Extras/Treats):
-- A "premium" biscuit (e.g., chocolate covered) (Cost: 3 Beaver Bucks)
-- A second small cup of squash/water (Cost: 1 Beaver Buck)
-- A small extra treat (e.g., a tiny piece of fruit or a few mini marshmallows) (Cost: 2 Beaver Bucks)

Instructions

INTRODUCTION (±5 mins)
1. Introduce the Budget: Give each Beaver their 5 Beaver Bucks. Explain that this is their entire budget for the activity.
2. Define Needs vs. Wants: Use simple, relatable examples.
- Needs: Something you HAVE TO HAVE to live or complete a basic task (e.g., shelter, food, water, a cup of squash so you're not thirsty).
- Wants: Something you WOULD LIKE TO HAVE, but don't strictly need (e.g., a new toy, a fancy chocolate biscuit instead of a plain one, a second drink when you're not thirsty).
3. The Golden Rule: Explain the rule for this activity: >>"You must spend your money on AT LEAST ONE item from the 'Needs Shop' before you can spend any money in the 'Wants Shop'."<<

SHOPPING CHALLENGE (±5 mins)
1. Open the Shops: Direct the Beavers to the two clearly marked shop stations ("Needs" and "Wants").
2. Lodge Discussion: Have the Beavers discuss their spending plans within their Lodge groups.
- Prompting Questions: "What is the one thing you need the most?" "How much money will you have left after buying your need?" "Can you afford that chocolate biscuit?"
3. The Barter/Borrow Element (Optional but Recommended): If a Beaver really wants a premium biscuit (3 Bucks) but only has 5, they MSUT buy one NEED (2 Bucks), leaving them with 3. If they also want the second drink (1 Buck), they may need to find a Lodge-mate willing to sell their own leftover Beaver Buck for something else, or trade a promised future favour (keep this simple and supervised). This introduces negotiation and *making a decision based on scarcity*.
4. Purchase Time: The Beavers spend their money and receive their chosen snack items.

REVIEW AND REFLECTION (±5 mins)
While they enjoy their snacks, lead a short discussion.
- "Everyone who bought something from the 'Needs Shop', raise your hand. Why was that the most important thing to buy first?"
- "If you bought a second drink or the fancy biscuit, why did you decide that was the best way to spend your *extra* money?" (Focus on the word "extra" or "leftover.")
- "Did anyone run out of money before they could buy a second 'Want'? What could you have done differently to spend your money wisely and get what you wanted?"


[Meeting the Objectives]
-- Know the difference between wants and needs: The activity is structured around this core concept with two distinct "shops" and a rule requiring a "Need" purchase first.
-- Explain how to spend money wisely: The limited budget (5 Bucks) forces them to make choices. If they spend 2 Bucks on a Need, they only have 3 left. They have to decide between one big Want (3 Bucks) or two smaller Wants (1 Buck and 2 Bucks), demonstrating the concept of opportunity cost and prioritising spending.
-- Simple to explain: The process is a simple transaction with a clear initial rule.

Tags

• Barter
• Cash
• Money Skills
• wants and needs

Badge Links

• Money Skills - Decisions