- Fulfills Step 5 of GSUSA Budget Builder badge requirements.
Items Needed:
- Clothing shopping cards with item names and prices (See Below)
- Space to sort and compare card sets
- (Optional, for adding more items) Extra blank cards and drawing materials
- (Optional) Play money or printed budget slips & pencils
Instructions (Estimated Time: 15–20 minutes):
- Sort Clothing Cards (3–5 minutes)
- Scouts each receive or choose cards with different types of clothing. They group the cards into:
- Tops
- Bottoms
- Shoes
- Optional: Dresses
- Scouts each receive or choose cards with different types of clothing. They group the cards into:
- Set the Budget (1 minute)
- Scouts have a set budget to build an outfit that includes:
- One top, one bottom, and one pair of shoes
- OR one dress and one pair of shoes
- Recommended $30 Limit. Why $30? Most outfits using affordable options stay just under budget, but adding in pricier shoes or top-tier pieces will require choices or trade-offs.
- Scouts have a set budget to build an outfit that includes:
- Build & Budget (5–7 minutes)
- Scouts pick cards to build an outfit and add up the total.
- If it goes over budget, they must swap one item to stay under $30.
- Quick Share (5 minutes)
- Scouts show or describe their outfit and say:
- How much it cost
- What they had to skip or trade
- If it seems like a thrifty choice
- Scouts show or describe their outfit and say:
Shopping Card List
Prepare each card with a quick drawing or picture and a label. Include the Estimated Price (average real cost in the U.S. in 2025). You can print these cards with clip art or hand-draw simple pictures. Use colored index cards or card stock for durability.
Tops
| Item | Estimated Price |
|---|---|
| Basic T-shirt | $6.00 |
| Long-sleeve shirt | $8.00 |
| Dressy blouse/button-up | $12.00 |
| Sweater | $15.00 |
| Sweatshirt with logo | $18.00 |
| Tank top | $5.00 |
Bottoms
| Item | Estimated Price |
|---|---|
| Jeans | $18.00 |
| Leggings | $8.00 |
| Joggers/sweatpants | $12.00 |
| Khaki pants | $16.00 |
| Skirt | $10.00 |
| Athletic shorts | $9.00 |
Shoes
| Item | Estimated Price |
|---|---|
| Sneakers | $25.00 |
| Flip-flops | $5.00 |
| Rain boots | $20.00 |
| Dress shoes | $18.00 |
| Slippers | $10.00 |
| Hiking boots | $30.00 |
Extras (Optional)
| Item | Estimated Price |
|---|---|
| Jacket or coat | $28.00 |
| Hat or cap | $7.00 |
| Pajamas | $14.00 |
| Socks (fun or pack) | $6.00 |
| Gloves or scarf | $8.00 |
The Badge Archive 