Teenagers are accustomed to never leaving the television or fridge. Many families are left with high bills due to the rapid rise in food and energy costs.
Many children will not be aware of the cost. However, innovative finance lessons at Colwyn Bay school, North Wales allow young students to show their parents how to budget.
This is what the rising cost of living means to a teacher, a mom, and a student.
Oscar, a tall teenager, loves to go out for take-out with his friends.
"I have noticed that it is getting more expensive, especially because of the delivery fees. The 18-year old suggests that they might have to eat toast as an alternative.
He also enjoys playing video games at home. However, his smart meter informs him and the mother that it "eats up power".
According to an ONS survey, consumers cite food (93%), gas and electricity (86%), and fuel (80%) as the most important factors in their living costs.
Oscar is not surprised by this and thanks to his finance lessons and recently completed A-levels in the subject, is well equipped to make a difference.
"We learned how to budget. He says it is a big topic that has been very useful at the moment. "I am also aware of my rights to benefits and pay."
He is currently working part-time at McDonald's, and plans to continue his employment if he earns the right grades to study political science at university.
He says, "The job allows me to buy some of my food so that I can relieve the pressure on my mom." "I offered money to pay the bills but she refused.
"I have made the financial decision that I will live at home while I attend uni. This should be a relief.
"After the lessons I've definitely taught my mom some things about finances!"
Claire, Oscar's mother, is a full-time masters student and must drive to school and work. This comes at a time when gas prices have soared.
It has risen tremendously. My budget is for approximately PS30 per week. The 46-year old says that while I used to be able to fill the car up for around PS50 at the beginning of the year it was now about PS70 or PS80.
She claims that the PS60 per week food budget is too high and that electricity is costly with two teenage children in the home.
She spread a supermarket-owned brand jam on two pieces of toast and said: "We have to cut back on snacks and other luxury items and only get the essentials." My fridge isn’t as full as it was before. It only has food for meals now.
"I cringe when the smart meter ticks by. It resets on Sunday so I shout at Oscar on Saturday night to get off of the computer. This doesn't always go down well.
"I am having trouble imagining what October will look like when gas prices rise."
She says that the money lessons in school have made it so that the children are more aware of how their actions affect the family's finances.
Nicola was a banker for almost 20 years, until 2012 when she became a maths and finance teacher at Ysgol Eirias.
"The finance lessons are designed to help them be more aware of the financial world when they go out into the real world, and to teach them how to manage their money. She says they want them to avoid bad debts that come with high living costs.
She teaches a group of teenagers who want to learn how to drive. However, the price of learning and maintaining a vehicle is "astronomical". They are still able to budget and take on temporary jobs to help pay for it.
She says that the lessons she teaches are based on her pupils' experiences. One lesson was based on one girl's monthly payments to pay for hair extensions.
"They are young adults with their own circumstances. They should talk about their problems and find solutions in the classroom. It would be great if they used it to reduce the cost of living at their home. Parents are giving us great feedback.
"There is a huge gap in financial literacy between people within and outside school. This gap must be filled, and I believe that I can fill it via the classroom as well as via the pupils in my classroom.
These examples attracted the attention of judges when she won last year's interactive investor Personal Finance Teachers of the Year Award - a distinction for which her students nominated her. The award's organizers are currently accepting nominations and applications.
For their money tips, we asked Eirias High School students studying finance for their money advice as prices rise.
