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Printable money menus

Use pretend menus for addition, multiplication and change.

Quick answer

Printable money menus are fun tools that help children learn addition, multiplication, and change calculations by pretending to order food or drinks. You can use them at home to practice maths skills while playing pretend!

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to use printable money menus to add up prices, multiply quantities, and calculate change from a given amount. Success signs:
  • You can add up the prices of items you want to buy
  • You can multiply the cost of one item by how many you want
  • You can work out how much money you get back after paying
  • You can create your own pretend menu with prices

Why this matters

Money menus are great for learning maths because they connect numbers to real-life situations. When you play with menus, you practice:
  • Adding up prices to find totals
  • Multiplying by quantity (like buying 3 ice creams)
  • Calculating change when you pay more than the total
  • Understanding how money works in shops and restaurants
This helps you become more confident with numbers and prepares you for real shopping experiences.

How it works

Using printable money menus is simple:
  1. Find or make a menu with prices for different items
  2. Choose items you want to buy
  3. Add up the prices to find your total
  4. Multiply by how many of each item you want
  5. Calculate how much change you get if you pay more than the total

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're at a pretend café with this menu:
Item Price
Ice cream £1.50
Sandwich £2.00
Hot chocolate £1.20
Cookie £0.80
Example 1: Adding prices If you want 1 ice cream and 1 sandwich: £1.50 + £2.00 = £3.50 Example 2: Multiplying quantities If you want 3 cookies: £0.80 × 3 = £2.40 Example 3: Calculating change If you pay with £5.00 for a sandwich (£2.00) and a cookie (£0.80): Total = £2.80 Change = £5.00 - £2.80 = £2.20

Try it as a mini adventure

The Great Café Challenge You are the manager of a pretend café. You need to:
  1. Create a menu with 4 items
  2. Set prices between £1.00 and £5.00
  3. Ask a friend or family member to order items
  4. Add up their total
  5. Calculate how much change they should get
Here's how to start: 1st time: Choose your 4 items 2nd time: Set prices for each item 3rd time: Ask someone to choose 2 items 4th time: Add up the prices 5th time: Calculate change from £10.00

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Forgetting to add the decimal point when working with money
    Why it happens: Children might not fully understand that £1.50 means 1 pound and 50 pence
    Fix: Always write prices with a decimal point and practice counting in pounds and pence
  • Mistake: Adding the same item twice when multiplying
    Why it happens: Confusion between addition and multiplication
    Fix: Use visual counting or drawing groups to show repeated addition
  • Mistake: Getting confused when calculating change
    Why it happens: Not understanding that change means "what you get back"
    Fix: Practice counting backwards from the amount paid

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:
  • Creating simple menus together with items your child likes
  • Using real coins and notes to practice the maths
  • Playing the role of customer and shopkeeper
  • Practicing with small amounts first, then increasing difficulty
  • Encouraging your child to explain their thinking
  • Using everyday situations like shopping to reinforce learning
Remember: It's okay if your child makes mistakes – they're part of learning! The goal is to make maths fun and practical.

Practice questions

  1. How much would 2 sandwiches cost if one sandwich is £2.50?
    Answer: £5.00
  2. If you buy 3 ice creams at £1.20 each, what is the total cost?
    Answer: £3.60
  3. You pay with £10.00 for a hot chocolate (£1.80) and a cookie (£0.90). How much change do you get?
    Answer: £7.30
  4. What is the total cost of 1 sandwich and 2 cookies?
    Answer: £3.60
  5. If you have £5.00 and want to buy 2 hot chocolates, how much more money do you need?
    Answer: £1.60

FAQ

What age is best for using printable money menus?

Printable money menus work well for children aged 5-10, but younger children can also enjoy them with adult support. Older children can use them to practice more complex calculations.

Can I make my own printable money menus?

Yes! You can draw or print your own menus. Include items your child likes and use prices between £1.00 and £5.00 for easier calculations.

How do I make printable money menus more challenging?

Try using higher prices, adding more items, including multiplication problems, or using different currencies to practice conversion.

Are printable money menus good for learning times tables?

Yes! When you multiply quantities (like 3 cookies at £0.80 each), you're practicing multiplication facts. You can also use them to practice skip counting and repeated addition.

Where can I find printable money menus?

You can find many free printable money menus online, or create your own using simple drawing tools or word processors. Many educational websites offer ready-made options for different age groups.