> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.classcents.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Earning & Spending Currency

> How students earn points and spend them on rewards

## How Students Earn Currency

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/joshuamakes/G5j-M0tSaQs4mL9T/images/students/student-dashboard.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=G5j-M0tSaQs4mL9T&q=85&s=3a7315a1a49c809575ee3ff8fa408d0b" alt="Student dashboard where earnings and spending balances are tracked" width="1600" height="1000" data-path="images/students/student-dashboard.png" />

Students earn classroom currency through various activities and achievements:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Academic Performance" icon="book-open">
    **Ways to earn**:

    * Complete homework assignments
    * Score well on tests and quizzes
    * Participate actively in class
    * Finish projects on time
    * Show improvement over time

    **Typical amounts**: 5-50 points per activity
  </Card>

  <Card title="Positive Behavior" icon="heart">
    **Ways to earn**:

    * Follow classroom rules
    * Help other students
    * Show good sportsmanship
    * Demonstrate leadership
    * Exhibit kindness and respect

    **Typical amounts**: 5-25 points per behavior
  </Card>

  <Card title="Classroom Jobs" icon="briefcase">
    **Ways to earn**:

    * Assigned paid jobs
    * Automatic weekly payments
    * Performance bonuses
    * Consistent responsibility

    **Typical amounts**: 25-100 points per week
  </Card>

  <Card title="Achievement Badges" icon="award">
    **Ways to earn**:

    * Reach savings milestones
    * Complete job streaks
    * Lifetime earning goals
    * Special achievements

    **Typical amounts**: 10-50 bonus points per badge
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## How Students Spend Currency

### Shopping for Rewards

<Steps>
  <Step title="View Available Rewards">
    Students browse the rewards shop on their dashboard
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Desired Item">
    Click on reward to see full description and price
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check Balance">
    Dashboard shows if they can afford it
  </Step>

  <Step title="Purchase">
    Click **Buy Now** - amount is deducted instantly
  </Step>

  <Step title="Await Delivery">
    Teacher is notified and delivers reward when convenient
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Encourage students to save up for bigger rewards instead of always buying small items - teaches delayed gratification!
</Tip>

### Participating in Auctions

<Steps>
  <Step title="View Active Auctions">
    See what's up for auction and time remaining
  </Step>

  <Step title="Decide Maximum Bid">
    Students should decide their limit before bidding
  </Step>

  <Step title="Place Bid">
    Enter amount (must be higher than current high bid)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Monitor and Adjust">
    If outbid, decide whether to bid higher or walk away
  </Step>

  <Step title="Win or Lose">
    At auction end, highest bidder wins and currency is deducted
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Teach students not to bid their entire balance - they should save some for other opportunities!
</Warning>

## Budgeting Tips for Students

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="The 50/30/20 Rule" icon="pie-chart">
    Help students divide their earnings:

    * **50%**: Save for big goals
    * **30%**: Spend on medium rewards
    * **20%**: Fun small purchases

    This teaches healthy financial habits!
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Set Savings Goals" icon="bullseye">
    Encourage students to:

    1. Pick a reward they really want
    2. Check the price
    3. Calculate how long to save
    4. Track progress toward goal
    5. Resist impulse purchases

    Dashboard has built-in goal tracking!
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Track Spending Patterns" icon="chart-line">
    Students can review their transaction history to:

    * See where currency goes
    * Identify impulse purchases
    * Find areas to save
    * Celebrate earning milestones
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Don't Keep Zero Balance" icon="wallet">
    Saving is good, but hoarding isn't fun!

    Encourage students to:

    * Enjoy some small rewards
    * Participate in class economy
    * Balance saving with spending
    * Remember the goal is learning AND fun
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Earning Strategies for Students

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Consistency Wins" icon="calendar-check">
    **Do this every day**:

    * Complete all homework
    * Participate in class
    * Help classmates
    * Follow rules

    Small daily earnings add up to big totals!
  </Card>

  <Card title="Go Above and Beyond" icon="star">
    **Bonus opportunities**:

    * Volunteer for extra tasks
    * Lead group projects
    * Mentor struggling peers
    * Exceptional work quality

    Bigger rewards for exceptional effort!
  </Card>

  <Card title="Apply for Jobs" icon="briefcase">
    **Regular income**:

    * Request classroom jobs
    * Automatic weekly payments
    * Build resume of responsibilities
    * Steady earning source

    Jobs provide reliable income!
  </Card>

  <Card title="Pursue Badges" icon="trophy">
    **Achievement bonuses**:

    * Work toward badge criteria
    * Earn bonus points with badges
    * Multiple tiers to pursue
    * Long-term motivation

    Badges reward sustained effort!
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Smart Spending Decisions

### When to Buy vs Save

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Buy Now When...">
    * You've saved enough for big goal already
    * Small reward would make you happy today
    * End of school year approaching
    * Reward might run out (limited quantity)
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Save When...">
    * Working toward specific big reward
    * Auction coming up for desired item
    * Not sure what you want yet
    * Building up for end-of-year splurge
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Auction Bidding Strategy

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Set Your Maximum" icon="hand-holding-dollar">
    Before auction:

    * Decide highest amount you'll bid
    * Stick to your limit
    * Don't get caught up in bidding war emotions
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Wait to Bid" icon="hourglass">
    * Don't bid immediately when auction opens
    * Wait until closer to end
    * See what others are willing to pay
    * Bid just enough to win
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Know When to Walk Away" icon="person-walking">
    * If bidding exceeds your max, stop
    * Save currency for next auction
    * Don't blow entire balance on one item
    * Many auctions = many chances to win
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Bid on Multiple Auctions" icon="list">
    * Spread bids across several auctions
    * Increases chances of winning something
    * More fun than all-or-nothing approach
    * Teaches diversification
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Understanding Your Balance

### Balance Components

When you bid on auctions or move money to savings, your balance is split into pieces:

<ParamField path="Spending Balance" type="number">
  Currency you can spend right now on rewards or auction bids.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="Reserved for Auctions" type="number">
  Amount currently held by your highest bid in an active auction. If you're outbid, this returns to your spending balance automatically.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="Savings Balance" type="number">
  Money you've moved into your savings account. It's protected from impulse spending and can be moved back any time.
</ParamField>

<Info>
  Your **spending balance** is what you can actually use — reserved bids and savings don't count toward it.
</Info>

### Transaction History

Students can view:

* Every point earned (with reason)
* Every purchase made
* Job payment dates
* Badge bonuses received
* Balance after each transaction

<Tip>
  Review transaction history to understand your earning patterns and identify opportunities to earn more!
</Tip>

## Common Questions from Students

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Why did my balance decrease?" icon="arrow-down">
    **Possible reasons**:

    * You purchased a reward
    * You won an auction (congratulations!)
    * Teacher applied a fine for rule violation
    * Spent reserved funds from losing auction bid

    Check your transaction history for the exact reason!
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="When do I get paid for my classroom job?" icon="calendar">
    **Check your job card** on the dashboard - it shows:

    * Your assigned job
    * Payment frequency (daily/weekly/monthly)
    * Next payment date

    Payment happens automatically at the scheduled time!
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I cancel a purchase?" icon="xmark">
    **No** - sales are final once confirmed!

    This teaches:

    * Think before you buy
    * Make deliberate decisions
    * Live with choice consequences

    (Teacher can manually refund in special circumstances)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why can't I buy this reward?" icon="lock">
    **Possible reasons**:

    * Not enough currency (check price vs your balance)
    * Reward is temporarily unavailable
    * Reward is auction-only (can't buy, must bid)
    * Quantity limit reached
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I earn more points?" icon="arrow-up">
    **Best ways to increase earnings**:

    1. Complete all homework consistently
    2. Participate actively in class
    3. Help classmates who are struggling
    4. Apply for classroom jobs
    5. Ask teacher about earning opportunities
    6. Work toward achievement badges
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Teaching Moments

Help students learn valuable life skills:

<Check>**Delayed Gratification**: Saving for big rewards teaches patience and planning</Check>

<Check>**Opportunity Cost**: Spending on one thing means can't afford another - choices matter!</Check>

<Check>**Budgeting**: Planning purchases and tracking spending build financial literacy</Check>

<Check>**Risk Assessment**: Auction bidding teaches evaluating risk vs reward</Check>

<Check>**Goal Setting**: Working toward specific rewards develops goal-oriented mindset</Check>

## Related Topics

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Student Dashboard" icon="grid-2" href="/students/accessing-dashboard">
    Learn about all dashboard features
  </Card>

  <Card title="Rewards System" icon="gift" href="/features/rewards">
    Understand how the rewards shop works
  </Card>

  <Card title="Auctions" icon="gavel" href="/advanced/auctions">
    Learn auction bidding strategies
  </Card>
</CardGroup>