This document outlines a case work assignment for students to create a personal savings plan. Students are instructed to: 1) Create a visual summary of their spending behavior from expense log data, including weekly and total expenses by category. They also reflect on insights from tracking expenses. 2) Interview a parent or relative about their views on saving, including when to spend versus save and tips for developing a savings strategy. 3) Develop a personalized savings strategy based on their income and expenses. It specifies saving and expense percentages, savings goals, changes to meet goals, and challenges anticipated in implementation. The assignment aims to help students apply economic concepts by thoughtfully planning and carrying out a real savings strategy. Ins

1. Case Wor~ (2nd ~waMer)
MY SAVINGS PLAN
I. INPUTS:
• Using raw data from your eXLogs, prepare a visual summary of your spending behavior:"
i. Choose your main expense categories. This will depend on what information you want to
know about your spending habits and/or what expense category you intend to cut out and
draw savings from. This can be as detailed as you need it to be.
• e.g. general: food, transpo, etc.
• e.g. detailed: meals, snacks, softdrinks, transpo, etc.
ii. Compute for your weekly expenses per category
iii. Compute for your total expense per category (9 week's worth)
iv. Compute for your average daily expense per category
v. Compute your average daily income (allowance, stipends, etc.)
• Reflect on your spending behavior and experience during your eXLog weeks. Share any
insights/realizations you may have had.
• Interview a parent or other adult relative concerning the topic of savings. You may use, but not be
limited to, the following points as guide questions:"
i. What is your concept of saving? How important is saving in the story of our family's financial
life?
ii. How would you determine when to spend and when to save? What guidelines have you used?
Examples and details would be helpful.
iii. What points-to-ponder would you like to share with me concerning the issue of savings?
II. OUTPUT:
• Based on the inputs you have, design your own personalized savings strategy. Your savings strategy
should discuss, but not be limited to the following:
i. What percentage of your income would you want to save? How much savings are you
targeting for the duration of your savings plan (until December)? Explain how you came about
this figure.
ii. What percentage of your income will you allot for your expenses (by main category). including
savings? From what expense category will you be sourcing your savings?
iii. What changes/action points are you willing to apply so that you will be able to reach your
savings target? Give details and Exemplify.
iv. What challenges do you expect to face in implementing your savings strategy? What
apprehensions do you have? Explain.
1 use graphs and/or other visual elements to make the data more attention-grabbing and appealing.
2 make your summary of the interview on a separate one sheet of paper. Indicate the name and relationship of
your interviewee. Have your interviewee read and sign your summary ofthe interview.
MECHANICS:
• Point System:
o Creative presentation of summary data of spending behavior (5 pts.)
o Reflection on spending behavior and eXLog experience (5 pts.)
o Summary Interview of parentis or adult relative (5 pts.)
o Savings Strategy (5 pts.)
• Deadline: October 4, 2010 (Tuesday), 4:30 p.m.
• Reminder: Generally, Case Works are opportunities to apply what you've learned in economics. The more
earnest you are in planning and executing your savings strategy, the more valuable your learning and
experience will be to you.
"To look is one thing.
To see what you look at is another.