GRADE 8 Pre-technical ENTREPRENEURSHIP – SAVING AND INVESTMENT Notes
SAVING AND INVESTMENT
Subject: Pre-technical — Topic: ENTREPRENEURSHIP (Age: 13, Kenya)
1. What is Saving?
- Putting aside some of your money now so you can use it in the future. Examples: keeping coins in a jar, a bank account, or M-Shwari.
2. What is Investment?
- Using saved money to buy something that might increase in value or give returns later. Examples in Kenya: SACCO shares, government treasury bills, unit trusts, starting a small business or buying land.
- Easy to access
- Money is safe
- Little or no growth
- May give bigger returns
- May take longer time
- Can lose money sometimes
3. Ways a Kenyan teen can save or start investing
- Piggy jar at home — good to learn discipline.
- M-Pesa or bank savings account (ask your parent/guardian to help open one).
- M-Shwari or KCB M-PESA (mobile saving options) — check with adults and learn about interest and terms.
- Join a small family or school Chama (group saving) or a youth SACCO if available.
- Save to start a small business (sell snacks, services, crafts) — this is an investment in your business skills.
4. Good reasons to save and invest
- Pay for school needs, uniforms, or fees.
- Buy something important later (phone, laptop).
- Start your own business.
- Handle emergencies (health, family).
- Grow money for the future (college, farming, land).
5. Simple saving plan (3 steps)
1) Decide a goal (e.g., save KSh 3,000 for school trip in 3 months).
2) Work out how much to put aside each week (KSh 3,000 ÷ 12 weeks = KSh 250/week).
3) Keep your money safe and record each deposit in a notebook or on your phone.
6. Safety tips
- Use trusted banks or SACCOs that are registered in Kenya.
- Never give your M-Pesa PIN or bank PIN to anyone.
- Be careful of get-rich-quick schemes — if it sounds too good, it might be a scam.
- Talk to a parent, teacher, or trusted adult before investing money.
7. Quick glossary
- SACCO: A savings and credit co-operative where members save together and borrow from the group.
- Chama: Informal saving group among friends, family or neighbours.
- Interest: Extra money you get for saving or pay when you borrow.
- Risk: The chance you may lose some or all of the money you invest.
Make a 3-month savings plan: set a goal, calculate weekly savings, and choose where to keep the money (jar, M-Pesa, bank). Write it down and check every week.
Note: This page is for learning. For adult financial decisions, ask a parent or a licensed financial adviser in Kenya.