Budgeting Worksheet for 12-Year-Olds: Planning a Trip to Charleston, SC

Instructions

You are in charge of planning a 4-day, 3-night trip for your family of four to historic Charleston, South Carolina! You have been given a total budget of $2,000 for the entire trip. Your job is to make choices for transportation, lodging, food, and fun, all while staying within your budget. Read each section carefully, do the calculations, and make your choices. Good luck, planner!

Part 1: Transportation

How will your family get to Charleston? Calculate the cost for each option and then choose the one you want for your trip.

• Option A: Driving
  Your family car will travel 600 miles round trip. The car gets 30 miles per gallon (mpg), and the average cost of gas is $3.50 per gallon.
  Calculation: (Total Miles ÷ Miles per Gallon) × Cost per Gallon = Total Gas Cost
  
  Your calculation: ____________________________________________________
  Total Driving Cost: $__________


• Option B: Flying
  Round-trip plane tickets cost $300 per person. Remember, your family has four people.
  Calculation: Cost per Ticket × Number of People = Total Flight Cost
  
  Your calculation: ____________________________________________________
  Total Flying Cost: $__________

My Transportation Choice Cost: $__________

Part 2: Accommodations

Now you need a place to stay for 3 nights. Calculate the total cost for each hotel and choose one for your trip.

• Option A: The Grand Historic Hotel ($350 per night)
  This fancy hotel is right in the middle of downtown Charleston.
  Total Cost for 3 nights: $__________


• Option B: The Seaside Suites ($225 per night)
  This family-friendly hotel is a short drive from the city and close to the beach.
  Total Cost for 3 nights: $__________


• Option C: The Traveler's Inn ($150 per night)
  A budget-friendly motel just outside the city limits.
  Total Cost for 3 nights: $__________

My Accommodation Choice Cost: $__________

Part 3: Food & Dining

You need to budget for food for all four family members for 4 full days. Your daily food allowance is $60 per person.

1. Calculate the total food budget for the entire trip.
   Calculation: (Cost per Person per Day × Number of People) × Number of Days = Total Food Cost
   
   Your calculation: ____________________________________________________
   Total Food Cost: $__________


2. Challenge Question: If your family eats the free breakfast at the hotel and packs a picnic lunch for 2 of the 4 days, you estimate you could save 15% on your total food budget. How much money would you save?
   
   Your calculation: ____________________________________________________
   Potential Savings: $__________

My Food Budget Cost: $__________

Part 4: Activities & Fun!

This is the best part! Choose at least three activities for your family to enjoy. Calculate the total cost for your family of four for each activity you choose, then add them up.

• South Carolina Aquarium: $35 per person
• Carriage Tour of Historic Charleston: $40 per person
• Fort Sumter Boat Tour: $32 per person
• Spooky Ghost Tour: $28 per person
• Beach Day at Folly Beach: Free! (But budget $50 for chair/umbrella rentals and snacks).
• Souvenir Shopping: You decide the budget! $__________

Activities I Chose & Their Costs:

1. _________________________ Cost: $__________
2. _________________________ Cost: $__________
3. _________________________ Cost: $__________
4. (Optional) _________________________ Cost: $__________

My Total Activities Cost: $__________

Part 5: The Final Budget

Time to see how you did! Fill in the table below with the costs from the choices you made in each part. Then, calculate your total trip cost and see if you stayed within the $2,000 budget.

Total Trip Budget: $2,000

My Grand Total: $__________

Did you stay within your budget? YES / NO

Amount of money left over (or amount you are over budget): $__________

If you went over budget, what is one thing you could change in your plan to save money?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

Answer Key

Part 1: Transportation

• Driving Cost: (600 miles ÷ 30 mpg) × $3.50 = 20 gallons × $3.50 = $70
• Flying Cost: $300 × 4 people = $1,200

Part 2: Accommodations (for 3 nights)

• Option A: $350 × 3 nights = $1,050
• Option B: $225 × 3 nights = $675
• Option C: $150 × 3 nights = $450

Part 3: Food & Dining

1. Total Food Cost: ($60 × 4 people) × 4 days = $240 × 4 = $960
2. Challenge Question Savings: $960 × 0.15 = $144 in savings.

Part 4: Activities & Fun! (Costs for a family of four)

• South Carolina Aquarium: $35 × 4 = $140
• Carriage Tour: $40 × 4 = $160
• Fort Sumter Tour: $32 × 4 = $128
• Ghost Tour: $28 × 4 = $112
• Beach Day: $50

Part 5: The Final Budget
Your final answer will vary based on your choices. Here is one example of a budget that works:

• Transportation (Driving): $70
• Accommodation (The Seaside Suites): $675
• Food: $960
• Activities (Fort Sumter Tour $128 + Carriage Tour $160 + Beach Day $50): $338
• GRAND TOTAL: $70 + $675 + $960 + $338 = $2,043
• Result: $43 over budget. To save money, you could switch the Carriage Tour to the Ghost Tour, saving $48 and putting you under budget!