Earn & Spend Pocket Money Game is a colourful and engaging way to introduce students to the world of money management and financial literacy. With a focus on real-world maths, this hands-on board game helps students practise essential skills such as addition, subtraction, and decision-making in a fun, meaningful context. Perfect for small group or paired activities, it encourages thoughtful financial choices while boosting confidence with money-based numeracy.

In this interactive game, students take turns moving around the board, completing chores to earn pocket money and choosing when to spend their savings in the classroom shop. Each transaction involves counting money, calculating change, and tracking savings. Players must decide whether to spend or save strategically, reinforcing both mathematical reasoning and money management skills. The student with the most purchases and savings at the end wins!

Earn & Spend Pocket Money Game includes a game board, chore and shop cards, and a Save & Purchase mat to help students keep track of their earnings and spending. It’s an ideal resource for developing financial vocabulary, practising basic operations, and exploring real-life budgeting concepts. The game is highly adaptable and suitable for a range of learning levels, making it an excellent addition to maths rotations, financial literacy units, or classroom reward systems.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Practise addition and subtraction through money-based scenarios
• ✅ Develop understanding of financial literacy concepts including saving, spending and budgeting
• ✅ Build confidence with counting money and calculating change
• ✅ Encourage strategic thinking and decision-making
• ✅ Promote oral language and peer discussion through gameplay

What’s Included:

• Full-colour game board featuring chore and shop spaces
• Chore and purchase cards with dollar amounts and prompts
• Save & Purchase mat for tracking savings and expenses
• Instructions for setup, gameplay and suggested variations

Materials Needed:

• Printed game board and card sets (laminated for durability)
• One die and one playing piece per student
• Printed Save & Purchase mats and pencils or markers
• Play money or real coins for hands-on currency practice
• Optional: A3 board enlargement for easier group access

How to Use:

• Print, cut, and prepare the board, card sets, and mats before use
• Assign each student a board, a Save & Purchase mat, and a playing piece
• Students take turns rolling the die and moving around the board
• They collect pocket money when landing on chore spaces
• Before each turn, students may choose to purchase an item from the shop
• All transactions involve counting money, subtracting totals, and tracking change
• The student with the most savings and purchases at the end wins

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use during maths rotations as a practical application of number skills
• 💡 Include in financial literacy lessons as a real-world budgeting scenario
• 💡 Set up a classroom economy system using the game’s structure
• 💡 Encourage students to reflect on their financial choices in small groups

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Use real coins or play money to enhance tactile engagement
• 💛 Encourage students to verbalise calculations to support peer learning
• 💛 Provide budgeting goals or constraints to develop deeper strategic thinking
• 💛 Ask students to journal their experience and reflect on their spending decisions

Earn & Spend Pocket Money Game brings maths to life through money skills that matter. From adding up earnings to making smart spending choices, this game empowers students with confidence, independence, and a foundational understanding of financial decision-making.