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When Spending Is More Than Income is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on what to do when spending is more than income, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.Eco.1.3-5. It prints 7 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 11 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

When Spending Is More Than Income

D2.Eco.1.3-5

NameDate

Circle the best answer, then write your plan.

1.What does it mean to postpone a purchase?
  • A.To buy it twice
  • B.To borrow money for it right away
  • C.To wait until you have saved enough to buy it
2.How does comparing prices before buying help with a shortfall?
  • A.It raises the family's income
  • B.It makes prices go up
  • C.It lowers spending on things the family needs anyway
3.Which expense is usually easiest to lower quickly?
  • A.Rent under a one-year lease
  • B.A car loan payment
  • C.Entertainment such as movies and games
4.Which is a fixed expense that stays the same each month?
  • A.Eating out
  • B.Rent
  • C.Groceries
5.A family spends more than it earns each month. What is this called?
  • A.A surplus
  • B.A balanced budget
  • C.A budget shortfall, or deficit
6.Why is paying for the gap with a credit card every month risky?
  • A.The credit card pays the bill for good
  • B.The debt grows, and interest is added to it
  • C.Credit cards make income larger
7.Explain to a younger student what to do when they want something that costs more than they have saved.
  • I explained what saving and postponing mean.
  • I gave at least two steps to take.
  • I said why borrowing for a want is risky.

LessonPrint · D2.Eco.1.3-5 · Set 11 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — When Spending Is More Than Income

Set 11. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.To wait until you have saved enough to buy it
  2. 2.It lowers spending on things the family needs anyway
  3. 3.Entertainment such as movies and games
  4. 4.Rent
  5. 5.A budget shortfall, or deficit
  6. 6.The debt grows, and interest is added to it
  7. 7.Advice to postpone the want and keep saving, with at least two steps, and why borrowing for a want costs more.

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.Eco.1.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.