Maths in shopping

Quick answer

Learning outcome

• You can add up prices of items you want to buy
• You can work out how much money you have left after shopping
• You can compare prices to find the best deal
• You can use a shopping list to plan what to buy

Why this matters

How it works

1. Counting money – You need to know how much each item costs and how much money you have.
2. Adding prices – When you buy more than one item, you need to add up the total cost.
3. Comparing prices – You can check if one pack of something costs less than another.
4. Budgeting – You can plan how much money you want to spend and stick to it.
5. Working out change – When you pay, you need to know how much change you should get back.

Examples you can see

• One apple for 50p
• One bottle of juice for £1.20
• One packet of biscuits for 80p

• 50p + £1.20 + 80p = ?

• 50p + 120p + 80p = 250p

• 250p = £2.50

Try it as a mini adventure

1. 1 loaf of bread – £1.20
2. 2 apples – 50p each
3. 1 pack of milk – £1.50
4. 1 packet of crisps – 70p
5. 1 chocolate bar – 60p

1. Work out the cost of 2 apples: 50p × 2 = 100p = £1
2. Add all the prices: £1.20 + £1 + £1.50 + 70p + 60p
3. Convert to pence: 120p + 100p + 150p + 70p + 60p = 500p
4. Convert back to pounds: 500p = £5
5. Subtract from your budget: £15 – £5 = £10 left

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Mixing pounds and pence without converting.
  Why it happens: It's easy to forget that 100p = £1.
  Fix: Always convert everything to the same unit before adding or subtracting.
• Mistake: Forgetting to include tax or discount.
  Why it happens: Not paying attention to all the prices shown.
  Fix: Read the labels carefully and add everything up.
• Mistake: Not checking if you have enough money.
  Why it happens: Getting excited and not thinking about the total.
  Fix: Add up the prices first and compare with your budget.

Parent and carer guide

• Letting children choose items and calculate the cost
• Playing a shopping game at home with toys or food items
• Using a shopping list and budget to plan a trip
• Practising adding up prices and working out change
• Encouraging children to compare prices of similar items

• “How much would it cost to buy 3 apples?”
• “Can you work out how much change you’d get if you pay with £5?”
• “Which pack of biscuits is the best value?”

• It’s okay if children make small mistakes – they’re learning!
• Don’t expect perfect answers right away
• Focus on the process, not just the result

Practice questions

1. Tommy buys 2 bananas for 30p each. How much does he spend?
2. Lily has £8 and buys a toy for £3.50. How much money does she have left?
3. Which is cheaper: 1 pack of 4 pencils for £1.20 or 1 pack of 8 pencils for £2.40?
4. Ben buys 3 packets of crisps for 70p each. How much does he spend?
5. Emma has £10. She buys a book for £4.20 and a pen for 80p. How much does she have left?

1. 30p × 2 = 60p
2. £8 – £3.50 = £4.50
3. Both cost £0.30 per pencil – same value
4. 70p × 3 = £2.10
5. £4.20 + 80p = £5.00; £10 – £5 = £5

FAQ

Why do we need to learn maths when shopping?

Maths helps you make smart choices when buying things. You can check if you have enough money, find the best deals, and save up for what you want.

How can I practice maths while shopping?

You can add up the prices of items, work out how much change you should get, or compare prices to find the best value.

What if I don’t have enough money?

You can decide which items are most important, or save up more money. It’s good to plan ahead!

Can I use maths to save money?

Yes! By comparing prices and looking for sales, you can find the best deals and save money.

How can I make shopping more fun with maths?

You can make a shopping list, set a budget, or play a game where you try to stay under a certain amount. It’s like solving puzzles!