Teaching kids about money doesn’t need to feel like a math lesson. In fact, it can be a fun, hands-on adventure that brings the entire family closer. Here at Hughes Federal Credit Union, we believe that learning how to manage money is one of the most valuable skills kids can pick up early in life—and we’re here to help make it easy and enjoyable for both parents and kids.
Rather than relying on lectures or worksheets, try turning your home into a financial playground, where budgeting, saving, and spending become exciting, interactive activities. Here are a few playful ways to introduce your little ones to the world of money.
DIY Savings Jars: Spend, Save, Share
There’s something about a jar filling up with coins that just makes saving feel magical. This old-school technique is simple but effective—plus, it’s an activity that your kids will love watching in action.
- Three jars for each child
- Labels for “Spend,” “Save,” and “Share”
- Markers and stickers for decorating
How It Works: Every time your child earns some money (allowance, birthday gifts, or chore money), let them decide how to divide it between their jars. The “spend” jar is for things they want now, the “save” jar is for bigger goals, and the “share” jar is for charitable giving. As they watch their jars fill up, they’ll start to understand the value of patience, responsibility, and generosity.
The excitement when their “save” jar finally has enough to buy that special toy or when they get to choose a cause for their “share” jar is amazing to see! Transform that old pickle jar into a visual tool for goal-setting. Kids love seeing their progress.
Family Fun with Monopoly or Life
Turn your next family game night into a financial lesson by playing classic board games like Monopoly or The Game of Life. Both games teach kids about earning, spending, and even making big financial decisions like buying property or investing in a business.
How It Works: During the game, take moments to pause and discuss real-life applications. For example, when a player buys a property in Monopoly, talk about the risks and rewards of investing in real estate. When someone in The Game of Life needs to pay taxes or buy a house, you can explain how these events mirror real-life situations.
Bonus Round: Create “real-world” scenarios after the game by asking questions like, “What would you do if you had $100 left after buying a car?” or “If you had to save for college, how would you start?”
Creating a Family Marketplace
Kids love playing shop and this time, it comes with an educational twist. Turn your home into a mini marketplace where your children get to “shop” with play money, practicing their budgeting and decision-making skills.
How It Works: Set up a family store using household items, snacks, or even small toys. Assign prices to each item, and give your kids a budget in play money. Let them decide what they want to buy, but here’s the catch: they only have enough money for a few items, so they’ll need to budget carefully.
This playful interaction helps children understand that money isn’t unlimited and they need to make choices when shopping. Because in real life, you can’t always have everything.
Turning Responsibility into Reward
An allowance is an opportunity for kids to understand the value of work and earning. Pair it with a chore chart to add structure and responsibility to their weekly routine.
How It Works: Create a list of age-appropriate chores and assign each a dollar value. At the end of the week, let your child collect their earnings based on the chores they’ve completed. It’s a tangible way for them to understand that money doesn’t come for free, it comes from effort.
Once they’ve earned their allowance, you can revisit the “spend, save, share” jars to help them decide how to distribute their hard-earned cash.
Saving Money the Smart Way
Next time you’re planning a trip to the grocery store, turn it into a family adventure by involving your kids in finding deals and coupons. It's a practical, real-world way to show them the value of saving.
How It Works: Before heading to the store, grab some grocery store ads or browse online coupon sites with your child. Give them a list of items you need, and see if they can find coupons for any of them. You can even offer a small reward (like extra allowance money) for every coupon they find that saves you a certain amount.
At checkout, show your child how much money they helped save with their coupons. It’s a great way to reinforce the idea that saving money is just as important as earning it.
Vision Boards: Dream It, Save for It
This activity is perfect for older kids who have a specific savings goal in mind, like buying a new bike, video game, or even saving for a trip.
- Magazines, markers, and paper
- Scissors and glue
- A poster board
How It Works: Help your child set a savings goal, then create a vision board with pictures, drawings, and words that represent what they’re saving for. Each week, check in on their progress and let them add new images or decorations to their board as they get closer to reaching their goal.
This activity teaches kids the value of long-term planning and delayed gratification. Plus, the visual reminder of their goal helps keep them motivated.
Family Money Meetings
Money is often a topic that gets brushed under the rug, but talking about it openly as a family helps normalize financial discussions and teaches kids that it’s okay to ask questions about money.
How It Works: Once a month, hold a family money meeting where everyone shares their financial wins, challenges, and goals. Kids can talk about how much they’ve saved, any challenges they faced sticking to their budget, or something new they learned about money.
Parents can also use this time to discuss the family budget and involve kids in decision-making for upcoming expenses, like vacations or major purchases. It’s a great way to make finances feel like a family project rather than a secret adult responsibility.
Opening a Youth Savings Account
As kids get older, it’s important for them to learn how real-world banking works. Opening a
youth savings account is a great first step toward financial independence.
At Hughes, our youth savings accounts come with special incentives all year round, including a $5 birthday deposit match. This helps encourage kids to save but also teaches them the ins and outs of having a bank account. Let your child accompany you to the branch (or do it online), and walk them through the process of depositing money, checking their balance, and even setting savings goals with their account.
Learn with MoneyCoach
Looking for an engaging, interactive way to boost your family’s financial knowledge? Hughes Federal Credit Union offers a free online resource called MoneyCoach, which includes interactive modules that cover everything from budgeting and saving to understanding credit and running a business. Whether you’re teaching younger kids or teens, MoneyCoach has topics that are tailored for every stage of life.
Check out MoneyCoach at
HughesFCU.org/MoneyCoach to explore fun activities that can help your kids and even you become more financially savvy.
By incorporating these fun and educational activities into your family routine, you’ll be teaching your kids essential financial skills in a way that feels exciting and rewarding. Hughes is here to support your family’s financial journey. With youth savings accounts plus free resources like MoneyCoach, we’re committed to helping the next generation become smart savers and spenders.
