This unit, one of a series of six Project SCAT (Skills for Consumers Applied Today) units, is designed to help senior high school students develop consumer education skills. For a description of the specific objectives and format of the units, see SO 013 467. This particular unit, providing teaching methods, learning activities, and a student booklet on budgeting, encompasses three specific topics. In analyzing reasons for budgeting, students learn how to meet needs and wants, provide for long-range goals and emergencies, control spending and impulse spending, and supply records for tax and income purposes. Next, students examine characteristics of a budget by outlining values and goals, all needs, some wants, and savings. Finally, budgeting steps involve keeping a record of spending, developing a spending plan, trying the budget, and revising the budget if necessary. Instructional aids include a pre- and posttest and reproducible graphics. Students conduct surveys to determine money management practices, discuss phrases illustrating feelings about money, prepare bulletin board displays on common money management mistakes, determine student opinions concerning life styles, use average expenditure guides for preparing a budget, and display budget forms and completed budgets for class analysis. The student booklet contains relevant vocabulary, readings, and worksheets. (KC)