Money talk

Conversation guide

• What is money?

  Money is what we use to buy things we want or need. Money can be coins, notes or digital numbers in a bank account.

• Why do we need money?

  It pays for things we need (food, housing, clothes) and things we want (toys, books, games).

• Where does money come from?

  Grown-ups earn money by working, like a reward for the time and effort they spend at work.

• Why do things cost different amounts?

  Some things take more time and effort to make than others, and that cost must be covered.

• Where do I put my money?

  It’s important to keep money in a safe place, where you won’t lose it. This could be a piggy bank, a wallet or a bank account. A bank account makes it easier to keep track of your money. Even though you won’t see the coins and notes, it’s still money and you can use it in the same way.

• How much money do I have?

  To know how much money you have, you just need to count it all up. You can count your notes and coins. If you have a bank account, you can simply look at your bank balance.

• Why do we need to save money?

  Saving money means storing it away instead of spending it right now. This allows your money to build up over time, so you can buy something bigger.

• What happens when I reach my savings goal?

  When you reach your goal, it means you have enough money to buy the special thing you've been saving for. It’s exciting because your hard work has paid off.

• How do I keep track of money?

  It’s important to know how much money you have, and it can be fun to keep track of your savings and watch them grow over time. A bank account makes it easy to keep track and means less math, as you don’t have to count your notes and coins each time you want to check.