Lesson

Fixed & Variable Expenses

9-12th Grades

45 min

Summary

Rent stays the same after a bad month—the grocery bill doesn't. This lesson teaches students to classify expenses as fixed or variable and launches the Life Scenarios budgeting simulation.

Activities

Bellringer: The Bill That Never Changes

Display the budget shortfall scenario and give students 1-2 minutes to formulate a response.

5 min

Instruction

Define fixed vs. variable expenses.
Classify real-life expenses into these categories.
Identify a common grey area: expenses that feel fixed but are actually variable.

10 min

Discussion: Spending the Leftovers

Facilitate discussion for 5 minutes on how a student would allocate income leftover after expenses.

5 min

Activity: Life Scenarios Game

Launch Life Scenarios.
Circulate and prompt students to notice which expenses are fixed vs. variable as they play.

20 min

Wrap-Up & Assessment

Name two fixed expenses and two variable expenses from Life Scenarios.
Which type of expense is easier to reduce when money is tight—and why?

5 min

Est. Time	Activity	Description
5 min	Bellringer: The Bill That Never Changes	Display the budget shortfall scenario and give students 1-2 minutes to formulate a response.
10 min	Instruction	Define fixed vs. variable expenses. Classify real-life expenses into these categories. Identify a common grey area: expenses that feel fixed but are actually variable.
5 min	Discussion: Spending the Leftovers	Facilitate discussion for 5 minutes on how a student would allocate income leftover after expenses.
20 min	Activity: Life Scenarios Game	Launch Life Scenarios. Circulate and prompt students to notice which expenses are fixed vs. variable as they play.
5 min	Wrap-Up & Assessment	Name two fixed expenses and two variable expenses from Life Scenarios. Which type of expense is easier to reduce when money is tight—and why?

Lesson Prep

Life Scenarios

Student begin the Life Scenarios game.

Life Scenarios

Student begin the Life Scenarios game.

Game

90 min

Class Presentation

Includes a 17-slide deck with teacher notes. Present from Banzai, download a PDF, or copy it to Google Slides.

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Teacher NotesSlide-by-slide guidance, printable as one handout

Unit 4: Budgeting

Foundations of Budgeting

A budget isn't a restriction—it's a plan. This lesson introduces needs vs. wants, net pay, and a planning mindset through scenario-based discussion and a life simulation.

9-12th Grades

45 Min

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