Money Path · make every dollar a decision

Learn

Your situation, your goal, your numbers

Level 1 is life money — phone, food, outings, savings — before any side hustle. One sentence: what would a balanced month look like for you?

Flip the four cards below, then open the lab below and list where money comes from this month. Round dollars are fine.

Tap each card once — definitions stay teen-plain.

You’ll know it when: all four terms flipped + income line in the lab.

If stuck: Start with one income line — finish categories in Practice.

Parent tip: Ask “what feels fixed vs flexible?” — not a latte lecture.

Learn

Phone to gaming — and drive unlock

In the lab, fill life categories: phone, food, gym, transit, movies, dating, clothes, gaming. Turn drive on only if you drive or will soon — that unlocks car, gas, and insurance.

Tag needs vs wants without shame. Leave drive off if you don’t drive yet — honesty beats cool.

You’ll know it when: categories + drive toggle + need/want tags in the lab.

If stuck: Start with phone + food + one outing — add the rest tomorrow.

Parent tip: Celebrate an honest map, not a perfect forecast.

Learn

Priorities, what-ifs, and leftover

Watch the leftover meter — income in, categories out. Name three spending priorities so leftover isn’t mystery money.

Run one what-if scenario (missed shift, friend trip, phone repair). Set a small save-first goal — even $20 counts.

You’ll know it when: saved month + three priorities + one scenario in the lab.

If stuck: Round to whole dollars. Negative leftover? Cut one want before touching needs.

Parent tip: Celebrate a balanced draft, not a perfect forecast.

Learn

Decide, explain, adjust

Log one week of real spends in the lab. Check pay-yourself-first with a parent — is the save line doable?

Name one flexible cut for a crash week: name the overspend, cut one line next week only, tell a parent one sentence. Restart is allowed.

Note: Ontario: allowance is informal; a student job may get a T4 later — keep paystubs. This path is practice, not a bank account.

You’ll know it when: week log + parent check on save + one cut note.

If stuck: Photo of receipts into Notes counts as tracking.

Parent tip: Review as teammates — ask what surprised them, not “why did you…?”

Learn

Goal, choices, trade-off, next habit

Open the My month share card in the lab — leftover, priorities, badges. Show family honesty over perfection.

Copy the card, write one habit for next month. Level 2 unlocks when you’re ready to price a tiny offer.

Note: Ontario: TFSA is 18+. Keep it simple until then — a plain save jar or account with a parent works.

You’ll know it when: copied share card + one habit sentence.

If stuck: Nervous? Read the leftover line first, then one surprise from tracking.

Parent tip: Clap the honesty more than the dollar amount.

Learn

Terms, offer, and parent-pays safety

Level 2 is business money — pricing a tiny offer you could actually sell or tip for. Write one sentence: who pays and for what? Lemonade-stand size beats SaaS empire fantasies.

Check these terms: price (what you charge), cash-in (money received), cash-out (costs paid), break-even (sales or hours to cover costs), unit cost (time + materials per sale), profit (cash-in minus real costs), parent-pays (tools and cards stay with adults), runway (weeks you can keep going if sales are slow).

Name the tiny offer you’ll price this level. Open Google Sheets or the budget lab for biz numbers. Safety: confirm the parent-pays rule for tools and cards — teens don’t need a credit card to practice business money.

You’ll know it when: terms note + offer name + sheet/lab ready + parent-pays OK.

If stuck: Price a neighbourhood chore or club service you’ve seen adults pay for. If the idea isn’t clear, peek at Ideation Path’s business brief.

Parent tip: Hold the card; let them own the math on paper.

Learn

Unit cost honesty

Describe your tiny offer and its unit cost — time plus materials. Be honest about “free” labour; your hours count.

Set a price or free/tip model. List every cost in money and time — supplies, rides, printing, your hours. Write a simple refuse-money line: when you would not take money — unsafe, unfair, or against family rules. Boundaries are a business skill.

You’ll know it when: one-pager: offer, unit cost, price, costs list, refuse line.

If stuck: Round numbers first; refine after talking to a parent. If price feels weird, try “tip jar” for one practice week.

Parent tip: Praise the refuse line — boundaries are business skills.

Learn

Keep books, not stress

Fill a simple cash-in / cash-out log — date, what, amount, in or out. Cash in the jar is not the same as profit after costs — say that out loud once.

Build a one-page books tally: income, expenses, and a rough runway note (how many weeks you can keep going if sales are slow). Parent checks the sheet once this week. Three real rows beat an empty fancy spreadsheet.

You’ll know it when: filled cash log + one-page books + parent initials.

If stuck: Use the budget lab export or a three-column Sheet. No sales yet? Log practice rows clearly marked as practice — then add one real allowance or gift line.

Parent tip: Spot-check one week together — teach the habit, not the CRA.

Learn

Numbers that survive a parent glance

Write your break-even note: how many sales (or tip events) cover costs, or how many hours earn a small goal. Fix one unrealistic number — hidden snacks, gas, or “free” labour hours.

Ontario glossary tip (not advice): allowance is informal; student jobs may get a T4 later — keep paystubs; TFSA is for 18+. This path is practice, not a bank. Read teen tax tip basics only — ask a parent before any real filing.

You’ll know it when: break-even sentence + fixed number note + tax tip checkmark.

If stuck: Break-even = “I need N sales at $X to cover supplies.” If N feels impossible, shrink the offer or raise price with a parent check.

Parent tip: Help them see hidden costs without lecturing — ask what they’d pay themselves for an hour.

Learn

Tell the money story

Draft a rough 3-month forecast — optimistic, OK, and slow. Numbers can be small; the story is the skill. Pull leftover and runway notes from the budget lab so the story matches your real map.

Demo a money story to family in ≤3 minutes. Fill a handoff card → Launch Path to brand and pitch, or stay on Money / Ideation as needed. Write one change you’d make for the next sell attempt. The budget lab show is the craft finale — selling is optional next.

You’ll know it when: forecast sketch + demo checklist + handoff card + one change note.

If stuck: Three sticky notes labeled good / OK / slow months still count. If pitching feels early, hand off to Ideation for a clearer offer first.

Parent tip: Clap the honesty more than the dollar amount.