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Level 2 · ages 9–12OECD PMSpend

Needs vs wants (advanced)

🎯 Goal: Apply need/want thinking to bigger spending choices.
You apply the need/want distinction to bigger teen decisions, using the 24-hour rule before buying an expensive "like".

Let’s explore

🧭
Teens have more wants: trendy clothes, gadgets. Telling them apart helps you spend right.
🤔
A tip: wait 24 hours before buying something expensive just because you “like” it.
🎯
Money is limited — spending on this want means less for another goal.

Practice activity

⏳ Next time you want an expensive thing just because, try the 24-hour rule.
Worked example: You really want 500,000d shoes because a friend showed off theirs. You apply the 24-hour rule. Next day you reconsider: your old shoes are fine, buying these would use 2 months of savings — you decide not to.

Quick quiz

1. A tip before buying an expensive “like”?
→ Wait 24 hours
2. Spending on this want means?
→ Less for another goal
3. Telling needs from wants helps?
→ Spend right
4. Craving pricey shoes because a friend showed off, you should?
→ Wait 24 hours then decide
5. Money is limited, so spending on a want?
→ Means less for another goal

🎯 Real-life mission

Before your next purchase, ask yourself: is this a “need” or a “want”?
Open the interactive app →

‹ Short-term and long-term goals · A small emergency fund ›

Rùa Vàng — Financial education for Vietnamese children · Aligned with OECD/INFE
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