budgeting activity obligation

How to support young people to meet their budgeting obligations.

on-going budgeting discussions

Young people are required to co-operate with you in managing their spending, which includes sharing with you:

  • how the portion of money paid directly to them on their payment card and in-hand allowance is spent
  • what their accommodation costs, service costs (power, gas, phone, internet), other lawful debts and liabilities (hire purchase, credit cards) are for the purposes of Money Management.

In these conversations you will support the young person to learn about budgeting and managing money. Continue these conversations to support young people to become (and remain) financially competent.

finding an approved budgeting programme

You’re responsible for referring a young person to complete an approved budgeting programme delivered by an authorised budgeting provider.

An authorised budgeting provider is the agency approved by the Ministry of Social Development to deliver budgeting programmes for taiohi in Youth Service.

Prepare the young person

Make sure the young person is prepared with information about their budgeting needs before they attend the budgeting course. They need to know what their weekly income is and what their outgoings are. They need to understand that they will be required to complete homework as part of the course. If they don’t complete their homework they may not pass and will have to do the course again.

If you’re unable to refer your young person to an authorised budgeting programme provider

Programmes can be delivered by external authorised providers or by Youth Service providers delivering an approved programme. If your programme hasn’t already been approved, you’ll need to submit your programme to the national_youthservice@msd.govt.nz inbox and we’ll make sure your programme meets the requirements. 

More information about budgeting programmes visit budgeting programmes | youth service providers.