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Home Economics

What is Me and My Money?

Me and My Money is a Unit of Learning on Budgeting and Household Management and has been developed in consultation with Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) and is designed to be used by home economics teachers in the classroom.

Home Economics aims to develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and values necessary to achieve optimal, healthy and sustainable living for individuals, families and society.  Home Economics nurtures students’ resourcefulness, innovation, adaptability, and competency as consumers. - (Home Economics Specification, p. 5)

This unit of learning is designed to build on students’ prior learning and to develop knowledge and understanding for further study and possibly make connections with their learning in other subjects.

Read more in the full home economics specification. Please let us know your experience of using the resource via the social media links at the bottom of this page.

Section 1: Needs vs Wants

Students identify and compare needs and wants through case studies and the Giant Steps game. This helps build a clearer understanding of how personal resources are allocated

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A copybook page with the text 'needs vs wants' written in blue pen

Section 2: Resources and income

Students explore the different resources available to them and how these support their needs and wants. They learn that making choices involves trade-offs and understanding the cost of their decisions.

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A copybook with the text 'resources and income' written in blue pen

Section 3: Expenditure

Students explore personal and household spending, including fixed, irregular, and discretionary expenses. They learn how to prioritise spending and connect it to needs and wants.

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A copybook with the text 'expenditure' written in blue pen

Section 4: Create a budget

Students will gain an understanding of individual and household budgets and how to prepare and evaluate one including calculating totals and determining the financial position of the budget.

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A copybook with the text 'create a budget' written in blue pen
Links to Learning Outcomes
The specification for Junior Cycle Home Economics focuses on developing students’ understanding and skills through the study of three inter-connected strands: Food, health and culinary skills; Responsible family living; and Textiles and craft.

Each section within the Home Economics stream has been developed using learning outcomes from Strand 2: Responsible family living. When designing units of learning, you may wish to consider learning outcomes from the other strands of the Home Economics Specification to reflect the integrated nature of the Specification and links to the other strands have been suggested throughout the unit.

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