8. Citizenship

Plan to earn money

8c.

With your parents or guardian, decide on an amount of money that you would like to earn, based on the cost of a specific item you would like to purchase. Develop a written plan to earn the amount agreed upon and follow that plan; it is acceptable to make changes to your plan along the way. Discuss any changes made to your original plan and whether you met your goal.

The ninth point of the Scout Law states that “A Scout is Thrifty.” Being thrifty means working to pay your own way, managing money responsibly, and planning ahead. In Requirement 8c, you will partner with your parent or guardian to select a specific item you want to purchase, create a written earning plan, execute that plan, and reflect on the outcome.

Step 1: Selecting a Specific Purchase Goal

Choose a concrete item with a real price tag rather than a vague amount of money. Good examples include:

A piece of personal outdoor gear (e.g., a backpacking headlamp, sleeping pad, compass, or pocketknife).
Scout uniform components or part of your summer camp registration fee.
A personal hobby or school item (e.g., bicycle accessories, books, or sports gear).

Sit down with your parent or guardian to confirm the estimated cost and agree on an achievable target amount to earn.

Step 2: Developing Your Written Plan

Write out your plan on paper or in your notebook. A complete plan must answer:

Target Goal: What item are you saving for, and what is its exact target dollar amount?
Earning Activities: What specific tasks or jobs will you perform to earn the money?
- Household Chores Beyond Normal Expectations: Deep-cleaning the garage, washing windows, mowing lawns.
- Neighborhood & Family Jobs: Pet sitting, dog walking, raking leaves, washing family cars, shoveling snow.
- Entrepreneurial Projects: Selling handmade crafts, baked goods, or yard-sale items.
Timeline: How many weeks will your plan take, and how much do you plan to earn per week?

Step 3: Following the Plan and Keeping an Earning Log

Track your progress as you work. Keeping a simple written log proves that you followed your plan:

Sample Earning Log

Date	Task / Job Performed	Client / Person Paid By	Hours Worked	Amount Earned	Running Total
Oct 5	Raked neighbor’s front yard and bagged leaves	Mr. Davis	2 hrs	$25.00	$25.00
Oct 12	Washed and vacuumed two family cars	Parents	1.5 hrs	$20.00	$45.00
Oct 19	Walked neighbor’s dog (4 days)	Mrs. Higgins	2 hrs	$20.00	$65.00

Oct 5
Task / Job Performed
Raked neighbor’s front yard and bagged leaves
Client / Person Paid By
Mr. Davis
Hours Worked
2 hrs
Amount Earned
$25.00
Running Total
$25.00
Oct 12
Task / Job Performed
Washed and vacuumed two family cars
Client / Person Paid By
Parents
Hours Worked
1.5 hrs
Amount Earned
$20.00
Running Total
$45.00
Oct 19
Task / Job Performed
Walked neighbor’s dog (4 days)
Client / Person Paid By
Mrs. Higgins
Hours Worked
2 hrs
Amount Earned
$20.00
Running Total
$65.00

Step 4: Adapting to Changes and Evaluating Success

Real life rarely goes 100% according to schedule. The requirement specifically notes that it is acceptable to make changes to your plan along the way:

Did rainy weather cancel your scheduled yard work?
Did a job take longer or earn more/less than you initially estimated?
Did you find an additional odd job to reach your goal faster?

Be prepared to discuss these changes honestly with your parent and your Scoutmaster. Whether you hit your exact dollar goal or fell short, the value is in having created, followed, and evaluated a real financial plan.