Final Project
Final Project: My 12-Month Household Spending Plan
Create a practical 12-month spending plan for your household after release. Build it in phases (for example, Months 1–3, 4–6, and 7–12), with a first-90-days plan, a zero-based budget for each phase, savings goals with a timeline, and a monthly review checklist. Sample or estimated numbers are welcome; never include real account numbers or personal documents. Every budget must add up exactly. Paper is fully acceptable.
Requirements
- A first-90-days plan: documents, banking, benefits to ask about, and a bridge budget
- A zero-based monthly budget for each phase, with total income, every line labeled N, O, or W, and proof that each equals zero
- Envelope or digital spending categories with payday amounts
- A sinking funds list with yearly and monthly amounts
- Savings goals (emergency fund stages and at least one other goal) with a month-by-month timeline and target months
- A household protection section: fraud and identity-theft checks and the insurance you will carry
- A monthly review checklist and your monthly budget meeting plan
- A one-page stewardship reflection, including your giving plan and how you might help others
Timeline
- Module 1: draft the first-90-days plan
- Module 2–5: complete phase budgets, envelopes, and sinking funds
- Module 6–7: add protection, goals, and the review checklist
- Module 8: peer check and submit the full plan
Grading Rubrics
Grading Rubrics
Every rubric uses the same four levels. Your instructor will mark the level that best matches your work for each row and add a short comment.
Module Assignment Rubric
| Criterion | Excellent (4) | Proficient (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Completeness | Every required part is done | Most required parts are done | About half the parts are done | Little of the assignment is done |
| Accuracy & Skill | Skills applied correctly with no significant errors | Minor errors that do not affect the result | Several errors that affect the result | Major errors throughout |
| Professional Quality | Neat, clear, and ready for an employer to see | Clear with small issues | Hard to follow in places | Unclear or disorganized |
| Effort & Growth | Went beyond the minimum or clearly improved | Solid, consistent effort | Minimal effort | Little evidence of effort |
Total possible: 16 points.
Reflection Journal Rubric
Journals are graded on effort and reflection, never on spelling, grammar, or the details of a personal story.
| Criterion | Excellent (4) | Proficient (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Completion | Responds fully to every part of the prompt | Responds to most of the prompt | Responds to part of the prompt | Entry missing or one line |
| Connection to Lesson | Clearly applies the week's skill or idea | Mentions the lesson | Vague link to the lesson | No link to the lesson |
| Faith Reflection | Thoughtfully engages the Scripture or faith theme | Engages the faith theme | Brief mention of faith theme | Does not address the faith theme |
| Personal Application | Names a specific next step or change | Names a general next step | Next step is unclear | No next step |
Total possible: 16 points.
Participation Rubric
Scored at the end of each module. Average the eight scores for the Attendance & Participation grade.
| Criterion | Excellent (4) | Proficient (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attendance & Punctuality | Present and on time for the full session | Present; late or left early once | Missed part of the session more than once | Absent without make-up work |
| Preparation | Completed assignment and brought workbook every time | Usually prepared | Sometimes prepared | Rarely prepared |
| Engagement | Contributes thoughtfully and draws others in | Contributes regularly | Contributes when asked | Seldom contributes, even when invited |
| Respect & Covenant | Models the classroom covenant for others | Follows the covenant consistently | Needs occasional reminders | Needs frequent reminders |
Total possible: 16 points.
Final Project Rubric: 12-Month Household Spending Plan
| Criterion | Excellent (4) | Proficient (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Completeness | All eight items included | Six or seven items | Four or five items | Three or fewer |
| Budget Accuracy | Every phase balances to zero; conversions and totals correct | One or two minor math errors | Several errors or unbalanced phases | Budgets missing or unworkable |
| Realism & Re-entry Planning | Realistic costs, obligations, housing steps, and a specific first-90-days plan | Mostly realistic and specific | General or partly unrealistic | Few specifics |
| Savings & Protection | Clear savings timeline with target months; strong fraud and insurance plan | Clear with minor gaps | Vague | Missing |
| Stewardship & Reflection | Giving planned in every phase; thoughtful reflection on faith and helping others | Clear reflection | Brief reflection | Missing |
Total possible: 20 points.
Quick Guide
Household Budget Quick Guide
Keep this guide with your important papers after release.
Zero-Based Budget Steps
- ☐ Write monthly take-home pay
- ☐ List giving first
- ☐ List first-priority needs and obligations
- ☐ Add savings and sinking funds
- ☐ Add a small amount for wants
- ☐ Total every line; income minus total must equal zero
- ☐ Assign any leftover dollars a job
Converting to Monthly
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Weekly | × 52 ÷ 12 |
| Every two weeks (biweekly) | × 26 ÷ 12 |
| Twice a month | × 2 |
| Yearly | ÷ 12 |
First 90 Days Checklist
- ☐ Birth certificate, Social Security card, state ID
- ☐ Bank or credit union account (ask about second-chance accounts)
- ☐ Ask your case manager about benefits (rules vary by state)
- ☐ Bridge budget until the first full paycheck
- ☐ Check credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com
- ☐ First monthly budget meeting
Irregular Income Order
- ☐ Cover the baseline budget (lowest realistic month)
- ☐ Set aside money for taxes on gig income (ask VITA or a tax professional)
- ☐ Fill the holding account for slow months
- ☐ Savings goals
- ☐ Wants
Scam Red Flags
- ☐ Pressure to act now
- ☐ Payment by gift card, wire, or app to a stranger
- ☐ Fees to clear a record or receive a grant
- ☐ A check you must partly send back
- ☐ Requests for passwords, codes, or your Social Security number
- ☐ When in doubt, hang up and call the official number yourself
If Your Identity Is Stolen
- ☐ Report at IdentityTheft.gov
- ☐ Contact the company involved
- ☐ Place a fraud alert or security freeze with the credit bureaus
- ☐ Keep copies of every letter and report
Monthly Budget Meeting
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 1 | Pray |
| 2 | Compare planned vs. actual |
| 3 | Celebrate progress |
| 4 | List next month's irregular costs |
| 5 | Write next month's zero-based budget |
| 6 | Set the giving line |
| 7 | Agree on one goal |
My Plan
My monthly budget meeting day: ______________________
My emergency fund goal: $__________ by Month ______
My next sinking fund: ____________________ $______ a month
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.— Philippians 1:6 (KJV)
Final Exam
- 1.
Luke 14:28 teaches that a wise builder first:
- 2.
A bridge budget covers:
- 3.
If you are turned down for a bank account because of past problems, ask about:
- 4.
In a zero-based budget, income minus planned dollars equals:
- 5.
$100 a week converts to about how much per month?
- 6.
A baseline budget for irregular income is built on:
- 7.
Which is a sinking fund?
- 8.
Yearly irregular costs total $1,200. The monthly sinking fund amount is:
- 9.
A prepaid card costs $11 a month in fees. The yearly cost is:
- 10.
Which is a sign of a scam?
- 11.
If you find signs of identity theft, report it at:
- 12.
A $1,200 covered loss with a $500 deductible. Insurance pays:
- 13.
Questions about a child support order should go to:
- 14.
Rent $900, security deposit $900, application fee $40, utility deposit $100. Move-in cost:
- 15.
Benefits rules are the same in every state.
- 16.
Giving should be a planned line in the budget.
- 17.
A security freeze blocks new credit in your name until you lift it.
- 18.
Envelopes are the best place to keep rent money that will be paid by money order.
- 19.
Describe the steps of a monthly budget meeting.
- 20.
Explain how Luke 14:28 applies to household budgeting.