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Pocket Money Maths

Maths hiding in pocket money: charity giving

Split money into spend, save and give jars.

Quick answer

Maths hiding in pocket money: charity giving helps children learn how to split money into different jars for spending, saving, and giving. This teaches them addition, subtraction, fractions, percentages, and how to make smart financial decisions.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will know how to split your pocket money into different jars for spending, saving, and giving, and use maths to work out how much goes into each jar. Success signs:
  • You can divide your money into three jars using simple maths.
  • You can calculate how much money you give to charity.
  • You can explain how giving money helps others.
  • You can use addition and subtraction to check your money.

Why this matters

When you learn how to split your pocket money, you're not just learning maths – you're learning how to be kind and responsible. You'll understand how to use money wisely, how to help others, and how to make choices about what to spend, what to save, and what to give away. This helps you become a confident, caring person who can think about money in a grown-up way.

How it works

Splitting your pocket money is like dividing a pizza into slices. You can take your total money and divide it into three parts:
  1. Spending money – This is the money you use for toys, treats, or fun things.
  2. Saving money – This is the money you put aside for something special you want to buy later.
  3. Charity money – This is the money you give to help others, like a local food bank or a pet shelter.
You can use simple maths to work out how much goes into each jar. For example, if you get £5 a week, you might put £2 in spending, £2 in saving, and £1 in charity. You can add these numbers together to check if you’ve got the right amount.

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you get £10 each week for pocket money.
Money Type Amount How to Work Out
Spending £4 4 out of 10 = 4/10 = 2/5
Saving £4 4 out of 10 = 4/10 = 2/5
Charity £2 2 out of 10 = 2/10 = 1/5
Total £10 £4 + £4 + £2 = £10
Real-world example: You and your friend are planning to buy a new game. You each get £10 a week. You decide to save half of your money and give 10% to charity. How much do you save and how much do you give?
  • You get £10
  • You save half: £10 ÷ 2 = £5
  • You give 10%: £10 × 0.1 = £1
  • You spend the rest: £10 – £5 – £1 = £4

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Money Jar Mission You are a young explorer who has just found a treasure chest full of pocket money! But there’s a challenge: you must split the money into three jars – one for spending, one for saving, and one for charity. You find £12 in total. Your mission is to:
  1. Decide how much goes into each jar.
  2. Write down the amounts.
  3. Check your maths by adding them together.
  4. Explain why you chose your amounts.
You might decide:
  • £5 for spending
  • £5 for saving
  • £2 for charity
Check: £5 + £5 + £2 = £12. Great job! Challenge: What if you had £15 instead? How would you split it?

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking that giving money to charity means you have less money for yourself.
    Why it happens: Children think giving means losing.
    Fix: Explain that giving helps others and makes you feel good, and you still have money for spending and saving.
  • Mistake: Not checking that the total of all jars equals the original amount.
    Why it happens: Children forget to add up their numbers.
    Fix: Always add up your jars to make sure it matches your pocket money.
  • Mistake: Giving all money to charity and having nothing left for spending or saving.
    Why it happens: Children want to help others and forget about themselves.
    Fix: Discuss how to balance giving with saving and spending.

Parent and carer guide

Parents, you can help your child by:
  • Setting up a simple jar system at home for spending, saving, and giving.
  • Using real money to show how splitting works.
  • Encouraging your child to talk through their choices and explain their maths.
  • Discussing how giving helps others and makes them feel good.
  • Helping them check their maths by adding up the jars.
What to say:
  • "How did you decide how much to put in each jar?"
  • "Can you show me how you added them up?"
  • "What would happen if you gave more to charity?"
What not to worry about:
  • Whether your child gives exactly the same amount each week – it's okay to change their choices.
  • Whether they choose to give more or less – the important thing is they understand the process.

Practice questions

  1. If you get £8 a week, how much would you put in each jar if you spend 50%, save 30%, and give 20% to charity?
  2. You have £15. You spend £5, save £6, and give £4 to charity. Is this correct? Why or why not?
  3. What is 10% of £20?
  4. You get £10 and decide to save £3 and give £2 to charity. How much do you spend?
  5. If you split £20 into 4 equal parts, how much is in each part?
Answers:
  1. Spending: £4, Saving: £2.40, Charity: £1.60
  2. Yes, because £5 + £6 + £4 = £15
  3. £2
  4. £5
  5. £5

FAQ

How much should I give to charity?

There's no right or wrong amount. It depends on how much you can spare and what you feel comfortable giving. Even a small amount helps.

Can I change how I split my money?

Yes! You can change how much you spend, save, and give each week. What matters is that you understand how to split it.

What if I don’t have enough money to give to charity?

You can still give what you can. Even 50p or £1 helps. It's about kindness, not how much you give.

How can I learn more about giving?

You can read stories about kindness, visit a local charity, or talk to someone who works at a charity. Learning about others helps you understand why giving matters.

Why is it important to save money?

Saving helps you buy something special later, like a toy or a book. It also teaches you to plan ahead and be responsible with money.