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Pocket Money Maths

Maths hiding in pocket money: saving goals

Track progress towards a goal with a simple bar or number line.

Quick answer

Maths hiding in pocket money: saving goals is about using numbers, counting, and simple addition to track how much money you save towards something you want. You can use bar graphs, number lines, or simple charts to see your progress.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to use simple maths to track your progress towards a saving goal using bar charts, number lines, or counting. Success signs:
  • You can count how much money you have saved so far
  • You can show your progress on a bar chart or number line
  • You can work out how much more money you need to save
  • You can plan how to save your pocket money to reach your goal

Why this matters

Maths in pocket money helps you understand how money works, how to plan ahead, and how to see your progress. It’s useful for saving up for toys, games, or treats. This skill helps you think about money, plan your spending, and achieve your goals. It also builds important skills like counting, addition, and seeing patterns.

How it works

Saving money is like going on a journey. You start with zero money, and every time you save, you move a little bit closer to your goal. Here’s how to track it:
  1. Decide what you want to buy
  2. Find out how much it costs
  3. Save a little bit each week or day
  4. Count how much you have saved
  5. Draw a bar chart or number line to show your progress

Examples you can see

Let’s say you want to buy a toy that costs £12. You save £3 each week. You can count how much you have saved and show it on a chart.
Week Money Saved Total Saved
Week 1 £3 £3
Week 2 £3 £6
Week 3 £3 £9
Week 4 £3 £12
You can also draw a bar chart. Each bar shows how much you saved each week. When you add all the bars together, you reach your goal.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Treasure Hunt You are going on a treasure hunt to find a special toy. You need to collect coins along the way to pay for the treasure. The toy costs £15.
  • Day 1: You find £2
  • Day 2: You find £3
  • Day 3: You find £4
  • Day 4: You find £5
How much have you collected so far? How much more do you need? Challenge: Draw a number line from £0 to £15. Mark where you are after each day. When you reach £15, you’ve found the treasure!

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking you don’t need to count the money you’ve saved. Why it happens: You might forget to add up what you’ve saved. Fix: Always count your money and write it down or use a chart.
  • Mistake: Not knowing how much more you need. Why it happens: You may not subtract the money you have from the cost. Fix: Use subtraction to find out how much more you need.
  • Mistake: Drawing a chart that is not clear or too messy. Why it happens: You might not label your chart or use different colours. Fix: Use clear labels and different colours for each week or day.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:
  • Choosing a saving goal with your child, like a new toy or game
  • Using a chart or drawing to track progress together
  • Practising counting and simple addition with real coins or notes
  • Encouraging your child to ask questions like "How much more do we need?"
  • Helping them understand how much money they have saved and how much more they need

Practice questions

  1. You want to buy a book that costs £8. You save £2 each week. How many weeks will it take to save enough?
  2. You have £5 saved. You want to buy a game that costs £12. How much more do you need?
  3. You save £4 in the first week and £3 in the second week. How much have you saved in total?
  4. You have saved £10. You want to buy a bike that costs £20. How much more do you need?
  5. You save £1 each day for 6 days. How much have you saved?
Answers:
  1. 4 weeks
  2. £7
  3. £7
  4. £10
  5. £6

FAQ

How can I track my progress if I save different amounts each week?

You can still use a bar chart or number line. Just write down how much you save each week and add it up.

What if I save more than I need?

That’s great! You can save the extra money for another goal or spend some on something special.

Can I use this for bigger goals like a holiday?

Yes! You can track your savings over months or even years. Just divide your goal into smaller amounts.

What if I don’t have any pocket money?

You can still practice with pretend money or use a savings jar to collect coins and count them.

How can I make saving more fun?

You can draw a chart, use stickers to mark your progress, or make a treasure hunt game with your savings.