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Travel Maths

Maths hiding in travel: souvenir shops

Choose souvenirs within a fixed budget.

Quick answer

Maths hiding in travel: souvenir shops is all about using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and money skills to choose the best souvenirs within your budget.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to use money and basic maths to plan and buy souvenirs within a budget. Success signs:
  • You can add up prices of items to check if they fit your budget
  • You can subtract prices from your budget to see how much money you have left
  • You can multiply prices to work out how much multiple items will cost
  • You can decide which souvenirs to buy when you have a fixed amount of money

Why this matters

Maths is everywhere, even when you're on holiday! When you go shopping in a souvenir shop, you use maths to:
  • Work out how much things cost
  • Decide what you can afford
  • Check if you have enough money
  • Plan your purchases
This helps you become a smart shopper and makes your holiday more fun and stress-free.

How it works

When you're in a souvenir shop, you need to use maths to:
  1. Look at the prices of items
  2. Add up the prices to see how much you'll spend
  3. Subtract from your budget to see how much money you have left
  4. Decide which items to buy
You can also use multiplication to work out how much it costs to buy more than one of the same item.

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're at a souvenir shop with £10 to spend. Example 1: Adding prices
  • A keyring costs £1.50
  • A postcard costs £0.75
  • A small toy costs £2.25
To find the total cost:
  • £1.50 + £0.75 = £2.25
  • £2.25 + £2.25 = £4.50
So buying all three items would cost £4.50. Example 2: Subtracting from a budget You have £10.
  • You buy a keyring for £1.50
  • £10 - £1.50 = £8.50
You have £8.50 left. Example 3: Multiplying prices You want to buy 3 postcards that cost £0.75 each.
  • £0.75 × 3 = £2.25
It will cost £2.25 for 3 postcards.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Souvenir Shop Challenge You are going on a trip to a souvenir shop. You have £20 to spend. Step 1: You see these items:
  • Sticker pack: £2.50
  • Small toy: £3.75
  • Keyring: £1.25
  • Postcard: £0.50
  • Mini magnet: £0.75
Step 2: You decide to buy 2 sticker packs and 1 small toy.
  • 2 × £2.50 = £5.00
  • £5.00 + £3.75 = £8.75
Step 3: How much money do you have left?
  • £20 - £8.75 = £11.25
Step 4: You can buy 1 keyring and 2 postcards with your remaining money.
  • £1.25 + (£0.50 × 2) = £1.25 + £1.00 = £2.25
Step 5: Check if you have enough money.
  • £8.75 + £2.25 = £11.00
You spent £11.00 and have £9.00 left.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Forgetting to add the decimal point when working with money.
    Why it happens: Children often think that £1.50 is the same as 150p without understanding decimal notation.
    Fix: Practice writing money amounts with the decimal point clearly, like £1.50, and always check that your answers make sense in real money terms.
  • Mistake: Adding numbers incorrectly when working with money.
    Why it happens: Children might add 50p + 50p and get 100p instead of £1.00.
    Fix: Use real coins to help understand how 100p = £1.00, and practice adding with a calculator or on paper using the column method.
  • Mistake: Multiplying prices incorrectly.
    Why it happens: Children may think that 3 × £2.50 = £6.50 instead of £7.50.
    Why it happens: They might not know their multiplication facts well or skip a step.
    Fix: Use repeated addition to check: £2.50 + £2.50 + £2.50 = £7.50. Practice multiplication facts regularly.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help children by:
  • Practising with real money or play money at home
  • Using a shopping list to plan purchases
  • Letting children calculate the total cost of items in the shopping trolley
  • Playing games like "What would happen if we bought this item?"
  • Using a budget and checking if the total is within the limit
  • Encouraging children to explain their thinking
It's important not to rush or pressure the child. Let them make mistakes and learn from them. If they get stuck, guide them with questions like "What do you think would happen if you added these prices?" or "Can you count on from the smaller number?"

Practice questions

  1. You have £15 to spend. A postcard costs £0.75. How many postcards can you buy?
  2. You buy 3 keyrings that cost £1.25 each. How much do they cost altogether?
  3. You have £10. You spend £3.50 on a toy. How much money do you have left?
  4. You want to buy 2 stickers that cost £0.25 each and 1 magnet that costs £0.75. How much will this cost?
  5. You have £20. You spend £8.25 on a small toy. How much money do you have left?
Answers:
  1. 15 ÷ 0.75 = 20 postcards
  2. 3 × £1.25 = £3.75
  3. £10 - £3.50 = £6.50
  4. (2 × £0.25) + £0.75 = £0.50 + £0.75 = £1.25
  5. £20 - £8.25 = £11.75

FAQ

What kind of maths is used in souvenir shops?

Shopping in souvenir shops uses addition, subtraction, multiplication, and money skills. You add up prices, subtract from your budget, and multiply to find out how much multiple items cost.

How can I help my child practice this at home?

You can set up a pretend shop at home with items priced in different amounts. Give your child a budget and let them choose what to buy. Ask them to explain their choices and calculations.

What are some good souvenirs to buy for maths practice?

Items like stickers, postcards, magnets, and keyrings are great because they're small, cheap, and easy to count. You can use them to practice adding, subtracting, and multiplying.

Can I use this maths for other types of shopping?

Yes! The same maths skills work for buying food, toys, clothes, and anything else you buy. It's a useful skill that helps you make good choices and stay within your budget.

How can I make this more fun for my child?

Turn it into a game! Give your child a budget and let them plan their purchases. You can also use real photos of items or make up stories about a trip to a faraway place where they must buy souvenirs.