Students learn to budget by giving back

Senior students from Lake City High School have a few things to teach about giving back.

More than 120 students from Matt Ruchti’s economics class solicited businesses or asked family and friends to make donations through social media and raised over $10,500 to give to the community.

“There is really nothing like this in our community that is solely driven by students,” Ruchti said.

Students also donated things like their own tip money or full paychecks to fund a shopping spree for select families and kids.

Students met at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Walmart in Hayden to shop till they dropped! Or ran out of money — this was a budget lesson, after all.

“They made memes, they taught me,” Ruchti said. “I told them to go ask someone for $20 or $30.”

One of the students made a snapchat asking all of their friends for $2, and got 50 donations.

“In my world, I was trying to find a way to get someone to hand you a $20,” Ruchti said. “But (the students) said ‘just ask someone for $2’ and they will give it to you immediately.”

Students led the entire process, from gathering donations from the community to making purchases for families and kids.

“We just worked,” said Taylor Meredith, one of Ruchti’s students. “We all kind of worked together with Venmo and a bunch of different things.”

Groups within the class teamed with Family Promise of Coeur d’Alene and Union Gospel Mission, which paired students with families or children in certain age brackets.

“We’re shopping for a father and son right now,” said student Jack Stafford. “We got a bunch of snow gear, a water bottle, a set of dominoes, socks, a wool blanket and a pillow.”

Students in Stafford’s group were focusing on comfort and practicality for the father.

“We’re trying to pick him out a backpack right now,” said Izzy Piedmont.

The 16-year-old son they were shopping for was more challenging. He was “very into” survival gear and video games, but the games he requested were sold out, so Stafford and Piedmont were trying to get creative to find other value options.

“He probably doesn’t have this game because it didn’t sell well, but the reviews are good,” said Stafford. “My favorite game of all time was one that didn’t sell well.”

Students were given a list of wants and needs from about 12 families or groups from UGM and Family Promise. The lists could include things like stuffed animals, kitchenware, toys, games or hygiene products.

They could spend about $150 on each person, and Ruchti encouraged students to price match, research and plan to stay on budget and get something for everyone on their list.

“It’s just a really good thing to help us learn about budgeting, and I love that we can give back to the community,” Meredith said.

“It’s kinda nice to take what we do in the classroom and practice it outside as well,” said Ashley Carpenter, another student in a group with Meredith.

Ruchti’s goals are to teach students to be as frugal and as diligent as they can, with the money and budget they’re given, in a memorable and real-world way.

“It helps people pay attention more,” said Taylah Chapman. “Sometimes I think, ‘oh this doesn’t really apply.’ But when we’re out here actually working on it, and having a budget, you go through it all and get a better understanding of what you’re actually doing.”

The shopping spree evolves every year as Ruchti learns more from his students and empowers them to be more in control. Last year, students raised over $7,500 to shop for families.

Ruchti tries to teach his students life skills, but they end up teaching him as this class project evolves over time.

“If you give people the opportunity to do something good in the community, they will,” Ruchti said. “It’s by far the best thing I do all year.”