Learning about money can be fun—and tasty! In this activity, we’ll use a pizza to understand how we spend and save money each month. Each slice of pizza will show a part of our income, and we’ll divide it up for different expenses like rent, food, and fun. By the end, you’ll see how budgeting helps us make smart choices with our money. Let’s get started and see how your pizza adds up!

 What You’ll Need:

• A pizza (real or pretend—you can draw one too!)
• Paper, markers, or a whiteboard to write on
• A list of common family expenses (like rent, food, savings, fun money)

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Explain the Activity
   • Tell your family the pizza is like your monthly income. Each slice is part of the money you have available to spend.
2. Count the Slices
   • Count the total number of pizza slices. This represents 100% of your income. (If you’re using a pretend pizza, draw one with 8 or 12 slices.)
3. List the Expenses
   • Write down the things you spend money on, such as:
     • Rent or house payment
     • Groceries
     • Savings
     • Transportation
     • Fun or entertainment
4. Calculate Spending
   • Talk about how much money is spent on each expense every month. (You don’t have to use actual numbers.)
   • For example:
     • If rent is $1,000 and your total income is $2,000, rent takes up half of your income (50%).
   • Convert percentages into pizza slices. If your pizza has 8 slices, rent would use 4 slices (50%).
5. Split the Pizza
   • Assign each expense a specific number of slices based on how much of your income it uses. For example:
     • Rent = 4 slices
     • Groceries = 2 slices
     • Savings = 1 slice
     • Fun = 1 slice
6. See the Budget
   • Put the slices together to see how the pizza (your income) is divided. Talk about what’s left or where you might need more slices.
7. Make Adjustments
   • Ask simple questions like:
     • “What if we want to save more money?”
     • “What happens if we have a surprise expense like fixing the car?”
8. Talk About It
   • Discuss how this activity shows the importance of planning your money. Explain how making a budget helps everyone.

Fun Ideas to Try:

• Add Toppings: Use toppings or labels to show what each slice is for.
• Practice Scenarios: Pretend you lose a slice for an unexpected cost. Talk about how to adjust.

Finish Up:
If it’s a real pizza, enjoy it together! Remind everyone that budgeting helps keep your money safe and smart!