Giving change

Quick answer

You give change by subtracting the cost of something from the amount of money you pay with. If you buy something that costs £2.50 and pay with a £5 note, you get £2.50 back in change.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to work out how much change you should get when you buy something and pay with money.

• You can subtract the price from the amount paid to find the change.
• You can use coins and notes to make the correct amount of change.
• You can check your answer by adding the change back to the price.
• You can solve real-life problems about shopping and money.

Why this matters

Knowing how to give change helps you in many real-life situations. When you go shopping, you need to make sure you get the right amount of change. This skill helps you be confident with money, which is useful for paying for things, saving up, and understanding how prices work. It also helps you become good at maths in general because subtraction is a key skill.

How it works

When you buy something, you pay more than the item costs. The difference is your change. Here's how to work it out:

1. Find the price of the item you bought.
2. Find how much money you paid with.
3. Subtract the price from the amount paid.
4. Count out the change using coins or notes.

For example, if a toy costs £3 and you pay with a £5 note, you subtract: £5 – £3 = £2. So, you get £2 in change.

Examples you can see

Let's look at some examples using real items and money.

Example 1: Buying a pencil

A pencil costs 45p. You pay with a £1 coin.

1. Price of pencil = 45p
2. Amount paid = £1 = 100p
3. Change = 100p – 45p = 55p

You get 55p in change.

Example 2: Buying a sandwich

A sandwich costs £2.30. You pay with a £5 note.

1. Price of sandwich = £2.30
2. Amount paid = £5.00
3. Change = £5.00 – £2.30 = £2.70

You get £2.70 in change.

Example 3: Buying sweets

You buy sweets that cost £1.80. You pay with a £2 coin.

1. Price of sweets = £1.80
2. Amount paid = £2.00
3. Change = £2.00 – £1.80 = £0.20

You get 20p in change.

Try it as a mini adventure

Imagine you are a shopkeeper in a toy shop. You have a customer who wants to buy a toy car that costs £4.50. They give you a £10 note. Can you work out how much change to give them?

1. Price of toy car = £4.50
2. Amount paid = £10.00
3. Change = £10.00 – £4.50 = ?

Now, you need to count out the correct change using coins and notes. Try to make £5.50 using the fewest coins and notes possible.

Challenge: What if the customer had paid with a £20 note instead? How much change would you give them?

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Subtracting the wrong way around – like £4.50 – £10.00 instead of £10.00 – £4.50.
• Why it happens: Confusing which number goes first in subtraction.
• Fix: Always subtract the price from the amount paid.

• Mistake: Forgetting to use decimal points or coin values.
• Why it happens: Not thinking carefully about the value of each coin or note.
• Fix: Use a money chart or real coins to help you count.

• Mistake: Counting change wrong by making a mistake in the coins.
• Why it happens: Rushing or not checking your answer.
• Fix: Add the change back to the price to check if it matches the amount paid.

Parent and carer guide

Helping your child practice giving change can be fun and useful. Here are some ways you can support them:

• Use real money or play money at home to act out shopping trips.
• Ask your child to work out how much change you should get from a shop.
• Encourage them to check their answer by adding the change back to the price.
• Use everyday situations like going to the café or buying snacks to practice.
• Be patient if they make a mistake – it's part of learning!

Remember, your child doesn’t need to know all the coin values by heart right away. You can use a money chart or a visual aid to help them count.

Practice questions

1. Question: A book costs £3.20. You pay with a £5 note. How much change do you get?
2. Answer: £5.00 – £3.20 = £1.80

1. Question: A bag costs £8.75. You pay with a £10 note. How much change do you get?
2. Answer: £10.00 – £8.75 = £1.25

1. Question: A drink costs 65p. You pay with a £1 coin. How much change do you get?
2. Answer: £1.00 – 65p = 35p

1. Question: A toy costs £12.50. You pay with a £20 note. How much change do you get?
2. Answer: £20.00 – £12.50 = £7.50

1. Question: A chocolate bar costs 80p. You pay with a £2 coin. How much change do you get?
2. Answer: £2.00 – 80p = £1.20

FAQ

What is change?

Change is the money you get back when you pay more for something than it costs.

How do I know how much change to give?

You subtract the price of the item from the amount you were paid. For example, if something costs £3 and you pay with £5, you give back £2 in change.

Why do I need to know how to give change?

Knowing how to give change helps you shop, save money, and understand how prices work. It's also a useful maths skill for school and everyday life.

Can I use a calculator to work out change?

Yes, you can use a calculator, but it's good to practice doing it in your head or with paper and pencil first so you understand the maths.

What if I make a mistake when giving change?

If you make a mistake, double-check your subtraction and make sure you have the right coins or notes. You can also add the change back to the price to see if it matches the amount paid.