Session 6 · Money, Values & You
Smart Spending
How to get the most from every dollar you spend
6th Grade Financial Literacy · 90 minutes
Unit pricing Price vs. value Best Buy game Impulse control
Today's Plan
Here's What We're Doing
- Opening hook — regret that purchase? (5 min)
- Unit pricing — the math of comparison (15 min)
- Price vs. value (15 min)
- Best Buy game (20 min)
- Impulse buying + 24-hour rule (15 min)
- Journal (10 min)
- Recap & preview (10 min)
Knowing the plan = no surprises
Opening Hook
Raise Your Hand...
...if you've ever bought something and regretted it immediately.
What happened? Did you use it? Return it? Leave it in a drawer?
Today we learn to buy smarter — so fewer regrets.
Lesson 1 · Unit Pricing
Unit Price
Unit Price = Total Price ÷ Number of Units
Brand A
8 oz for $2.00
$2.00 ÷ 8 = $0.25/oz
Brand B
12 oz for $2.40
$2.40 ÷ 12 = $0.20/oz
Brand B costs less per ounce — even though it costs more upfront.
Lesson 1 · Unit Price Practice
You Try!
Pack of 6 pencils for $3.00 vs. pack of 10 pencils for $4.50
Pack of 6
$3.00 ÷ 6 = $___ per pencil
Pack of 10
$4.50 ÷ 10 = $___ per pencil
Which is the better deal? Work it out with your neighbor!
Lesson 2 · Price vs. Value
Price ≠ Value
Price
The number on the tag. What you pay.
Value
What you actually GET. Quality + use + how long it lasts.
Cheap ≠ best deal. Sometimes paying more saves money long-term.
Lesson 2 · Value Examples
Think Long-Term
- $8 phone case → breaks in 2 months → buy 6/year = $48
- $20 phone case → lasts 2 years → $10/year
- Fast food $5/day → $150/month
- Home-cooked lunch $1.50/day → $45/month
The question isn't just "how much does it cost?" — it's "how much does it cost over time?"
Brain Break
Quick Math Challenge!
24 oz for $3.00 vs. 16 oz for $2.40
Work out the unit price for each with your partner. Which is better?
60 seconds. Show your math!
Best Buy Game
Find the Best Deal
- Your group gets 3 shopping scenarios
- Calculate unit prices where needed
- Consider price AND value (quality, longevity, use)
- Decide: what's the best choice in each scenario?
- Remember: "best" might be different for different people
8 minutes — GO!
Activity Debrief
What Is "Best"?
- Did your group agree on the best choice?
- When did price win? When did value win?
- What factors besides price did you consider?
Smart spending = thinking about total value, not just the sticker price.
Lesson 3 · Impulse Buying
Impulse Buying
An unplanned purchase made on emotion, not reason.
Hunger
Everything looks good when you're hungry
Stress/Boredom
Shopping as a coping mechanism
FOMO
"Everyone has one" / "Limited time only!"
Lesson 3 · The 24-Hour Rule
The 24-Hour Rule
Before buying anything non-essential:
Wait 24 hours.
Still want it? Your choice.
Changed your mind? You just saved money.
- Works best for items over $10
- Not a "no" — it's a "not right now"
- Gets easier with practice
Islamic Perspective
Shukr & Halal Consumption
شكر Shukr
Gratitude. Appreciating what you already have reduces the urge to constantly buy more.
Science agrees: gratitude increases contentment.
Halal Consumption
Spending intentionally, ethically, and in ways that align with your values — not just your impulses.
Journal Time
Take 8 Minutes...
"Describe a purchase you made that you regret. What would you do differently now?"
- Even a $1 snack counts — keep it real
- Apply what you learned today
- No judgment — everyone has regrets!
Session 6 · Wrap Up
What We Learned Today
Unit price = total ÷ units. Compare value, not just tags.
Price ≠ value. Cheap can be expensive long-term.
Impulse buying is driven by emotion — recognize the triggers.
The 24-hour rule: not a "no," just a "not right now."
Shukr = gratitude = contentment = less impulse buying.
Next session: INVESTING — how money grows over time