Maths hiding in pocket money: wish-list ranking

Quick answer

Learning outcome

• You can add up the prices of your favourite things
• You can put your wishes in order from most expensive to least expensive
• You can decide how long it takes to save for something
• You can explain why you chose to save for one thing over another

Why this matters

• How much things cost
• How much money you have
• How long it will take to save up for something
• Which things you can afford

How it works

1. Write down your wishes – list the things you want to buy
2. Find the prices – look up how much each item costs
3. Add up the prices – use addition to find the total cost
4. Order by cost – put the most expensive at the top
5. Calculate saving time – divide the price by your weekly allowance
6. Decide what to save for – pick the most important or fun thing

Examples you can see

• Toy car – £2.50
• Book – £3.00
• Chocolate bar – £1.00
• Colouring pencils – £2.25

• Toy car: £2.50
• Book: £3.00
• Chocolate bar: £1.00
• Colouring pencils: £2.25

1. Book – £3.00
2. Toy car – £2.50
3. Colouring pencils – £2.25
4. Chocolate bar – £1.00

• Book: £3.00 ÷ £1.00 = 3 weeks
• Toy car: £2.50 ÷ £1.00 = 2.5 weeks (about 3 weeks)
• Colouring pencils: £2.25 ÷ £1.00 = 2.25 weeks (about 2 weeks)
• Chocolate bar: £1.00 ÷ £1.00 = 1 week

Try it as a mini adventure

1. Start with a list of 5 items your child wants
2. Find out how much each item costs (or make up prices)
3. Write down the prices in a table
4. Order them from most expensive to least expensive
5. Decide how many weeks it will take to save for each item
6. Choose the one you want to save for

• Toy robot – £4.00
• Sticker book – £1.50
• Pen set – £2.00
• Small puzzle – £3.00
• Trading cards – £2.50

1. Write down the prices:

2. Order by cost:

1. Toy robot – £4.00
2. Small puzzle – £3.00
3. Trading cards – £2.50
4. Pen set – £2.00
5. Sticker book – £1.50

3. How many weeks to save for each?

• Toy robot: £4.00 ÷ £1.00 = 4 weeks
• Small puzzle: £3.00 ÷ £1.00 = 3 weeks
• Trading cards: £2.50 ÷ £1.00 = 2.5 weeks (3 weeks)
• Pen set: £2.00 ÷ £1.00 = 2 weeks
• Sticker book: £1.50 ÷ £1.00 = 1.5 weeks (2 weeks)

4. Choose your top pick!

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Adding prices wrong
  • Why it happens: Not lining up the decimal points or making a simple addition error
  • Fix: Use a calculator or write the numbers in columns with decimal points aligned
• Mistake: Not thinking about saving time
  • Why it happens: Only looking at the price, not how long it takes to save
  • Fix: Always think about how many weeks it will take based on your allowance
• Mistake: Choosing the cheapest item
  • Why it happens: Thinking that saving for the smallest thing is better
  • Fix: Think about what you want most and what gives you the most excitement
• Mistake: Forgetting to include tax or extra costs
  • Why it happens: Not thinking about how prices might change or extra fees
  • Fix: Check if there are any extra costs when you're shopping

Parent and carer guide

• Start simple: Use real items or pretend shopping with small amounts
• Ask questions: "How much would it cost to buy 3 of these?" or "Which is more expensive?"
• Make it fun: Use a chart or a notebook to track wishes and prices
• Encourage thinking: Let them explain why they chose one thing over another
• Be patient: It's okay if they make mistakes – that's how they learn!

• "Let's add up how much all your wishes cost"
• "Which one would take the longest to save for?"
• "What would you do if you had to choose between these two?"

• Don't pressure them to save for a specific item
• Don't say "you should spend it on X"
• Don't focus only on the money – let them enjoy the process

Practice questions

1. What is £2.50 + £1.75?
2. Order these prices from most expensive to least: £3.20, £1.80, £4.00, £2.10
3. If a toy costs £5.00 and you get £1.00 per week, how many weeks will it take to save?
4. Which is cheaper: £2.30 or £2.50?
5. How much would 3 books cost if each book is £2.00?

1. £4.25
2. £4.00, £3.20, £2.10, £1.80
3. 5 weeks
4. £2.30
5. £6.00

FAQ

What happens if I don't have enough money for what I want?

You can still use maths to decide what to save for, or choose to save for something smaller first.

Can I use pocket money maths for bigger purchases?

Yes! You can use the same steps for planning a bike, a game, or a holiday.

How can I make this more fun?

You can draw pictures of your wishes, use play money, or make it into a game with friends.

Is it okay to change my mind about what to save for?

Yes! It's part of the learning process. You might want something different after thinking it through.

Can I use this when I get more pocket money?

Absolutely! The more you save, the more you can buy, and the more you'll enjoy using maths to make choices.