Getting Started

Introduction & Overview

Personal Management is one of the most practical merit badges you can earn. It teaches you how to handle money wisely, manage your time, and plan projects — skills you will use every single day for the rest of your life. Whether you are saving up for a new bike, figuring out how to balance homework and sports, or dreaming about a future career, this badge gives you the tools to make it happen. As an Eagle-required badge, Personal Management is a key step on the trail to Eagle Scout.

A Scout sitting at a desk with a notebook, calculator, and laptop, planning a budget with a look of focus and determination

Then and Now

Then

The idea of teaching young people about money management goes way back. Benjamin Franklin published Poor Richard’s Almanack in 1732, filling it with advice like “a penny saved is a penny earned.” When Scouting America introduced merit badges in 1911, Personal Management was among the earliest — recognizing that being “prepared” means more than knowing how to tie knots. In those days, most families tracked spending with handwritten ledgers, and young people learned about money by helping run the family store or farm.

Now

Today, money moves at the speed of a tap. You can buy something online in seconds, transfer money between accounts with an app, and even invest in the stock market from your phone. That speed makes personal management skills more important than ever. It is easy to spend without thinking when you never see physical cash leave your hands. This badge teaches you to be intentional — to pause, plan, and make smart decisions about your money, your time, and your future.

Kinds of Personal Management

Personal Management is not just one skill — it is a set of connected skills that work together to help you take charge of your life. Here are the four big areas you will explore in this badge.

Money Management

This is the core of the badge. You will learn how to create and follow a budget, compare prices like a smart shopper, and understand the difference between needs and wants. Money management is about making your dollars work for you instead of wondering where they all went.

A Scout reviewing a handwritten budget on notebook paper, with coins and dollar bills organized neatly on the table beside them

Saving & Investing

Once you know how to manage day-to-day money, you will explore how to grow it over time. You will learn the difference between a savings account and stocks, understand how compound interest can turn small amounts into large ones, and discover why starting to save early gives you a huge advantage.

Time Management

Money is not the only resource you need to manage. Time is just as valuable — and you cannot earn more of it. You will build a weekly schedule, keep a journal of how you actually spend your time, and learn strategies for getting more done without feeling overwhelmed.

Project Planning

Every goal starts with a plan. Whether it is organizing a campout, launching a service project, or preparing for a big event, you will learn how to break a big idea into manageable steps, create a timeline, and build a budget that keeps the project on track.