Kids & money workbook
Little Money Bosses
Every dollar has a job
Your child's first steps to becoming money aware.
A pocket money system for parents and kids aged 5 to 12. Spend some, save some, invest some.
My daughter gets pocket money every week. Every week, she splits it three ways: spending, savings and investments.
Spending is hers to spend. Savings is for her short-term goals, and once a month she can move some of it across to spending. Investments are for her long-term goals, and that money doesn't get touched.
I started this because I could see what would happen without a plan: money would come in and go straight back out. So I'm teaching her to give every dollar a goal, so it becomes a habit she keeps for life.
Using this system has changed the way we talk about money in our home. The conversations I have with my daughter are so different from the ones I grew up with. Now, whenever she receives money, she automatically thinks about which of her three jars it will go into, and what it's for.
As a mum who didn't have these conversations growing up, seeing her grow this way gives me real confidence. I know that as she gets older, she'll make better choices with money. She's building a relationship with it where she sees money as a tool, not just a way to get what she wants.
If money wasn't talked about in your home growing up either, you're not alone. It's never too late to start these conversations, and you don't need to have all the answers to begin. This workbook will show you how.
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Install it like an app
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How this workbook works
- Parent chapters show you how to set up and run the system.
- Kid pages are for your child, with you nearby. They're marked with a green tag.
- The weekly tracker in Chapter 5 is where your child records their pocket money every week.
- It saves as you go, in this browser on this device. To move to another device, tap Back up or move my workbook in the chapter menu.
Worksheet
Add your children
Each child gets their own goals and tracker. You can add more at any time.
Your chapters
This workbook is general information only, not personal financial advice. See the important information at the end of Chapter 8.
Chapter 1 · For parents
Why every dollar needs a job
Without a plan, money comes in and goes straight back out. That's true for kids, and for most adults too.
When a child gets money with no plan, the easiest thing to do is spend it, straight away. Giving every dollar a job before it's spent builds three habits that last a lifetime:
- Planning before spending. Money gets a job first, then it's used.
- Waiting for things that matter. Saving for something bigger feels better than lots of small buys.
- Thinking long term. Some money is for the future, and the future is worth looking after.
The three jars
| Jar | What it's for | The rule |
|---|---|---|
| Spend for now | Everyday things your child chooses | Spend it any time |
| Save for soon | Short-term goals, a few weeks or months away | Can move money to Spend once a month, on transfer day |
| Invest for later | Long-term goals, years away | This money stays put. It isn't touched. |
The golden rule
Every jar gets something, every payday.
It doesn't matter how much. It might be $5 in Spend, $2 in Save and 50 cents in Invest. What matters is that no jar is ever skipped, and your child can never put all their money in Spend. A little in every jar, every single week, is what turns this into a habit for life.
Why your child chooses the split
In this system, your child decides how much goes into each jar every week. They have two rules to follow: every dollar gets a job, and every jar gets something.
Choosing is where the learning happens. When they put most of it into Spend one week, they feel it when their goal moves further away. When they put more into Save, they see their goal get closer. Your job is to ask good questions, not to make the choice for them.
Worksheet
Your step
Read the three jar rules and write down what you want your children to believe about money.
Chapter 2 · For parents Do together
Setting up pocket money
A few simple decisions now make the whole system easy to run every week.
How much?
There's no right amount. One common starting point is $1 a week for each year of age, so a 7-year-old gets $7. Start with what works for your family budget. A small amount, paid every week without fail, teaches more than a big amount that comes and goes.
Given or earned?
- Given: pocket money is a learning tool, separate from helping around the house.
- Earned: pocket money is paid for set jobs.
- A mix: a base amount every week, plus extra jobs to earn more.
Any of these works. What matters is choosing one and sticking to it.
Where does the money live?
- Three real jars work best for younger kids. They can see and count their money.
- A bank account or kids' banking app suits older kids. Some families use a separate account for each jar.
- Both: real jars for Spend, and an account for Save and Invest.
Worksheet
Our pocket money plan
Your family money agreement
Fill this in together with your child. Writing the rules down, and both agreeing to them, makes them feel real.
Our Family Money Agreement
- Pocket money is paid every payday.
- Every dollar gets a job: Spend, Save or Invest. I choose how much goes in each jar.
- Every jar gets something every payday, even if it's just a little. I can't put all my money in one jar.
- My Spend jar is mine to spend on things I choose, within our family rules.
- My Save jar is for my short-term goals. I can move money to Spend once a month, on transfer day.
- My Invest jar is for my long-term goals. That money stays put.
- If I spend all my Spend money early, I wait until next payday.
Fill it in above first. The printed copy has space for everyone to sign by hand. From the print screen you can also choose Save as PDF.
Your step
Decide your pocket money plan, then fill in the family money agreement together.
Chapter 3 Kid page
Meet your three jars
Every time you get money, you give every dollar a job. There are three jobs your money can do.
Spend
Things you want to buy soon, like a treat or a small toy.
Save
Something bigger you want in a few weeks or months.
Invest
Big things for when you're older. This money stays put and grows.
Every payday, every jar gets something. Even a little bit counts!
The jar game
Which jar would you use for each of these? Tap Spend, Save or Invest.
Your step
Play the jar game and get at least 7 right.
Chapter 4 Kid page
My goals
A goal is something you're saving up for. Goals give your money a reason to wait.
| Goal type | How far away? | Ideas |
|---|---|---|
| Save goal | A few weeks or months | A new game, a scooter, a day out, a present for someone |
| Invest goal | Years away | Your first car, a big trip, helping pay for uni, your own business one day |
Worksheet
Whose goals?
The bars fill up from the money in your Save and Invest jars in the weekly tracker.
Your step
Choose one Save goal and one Invest goal, and write down how much each one costs.
Chapter 5 Kid page
My weekly money tracker
Every payday, come here and give every dollar a job. Remember, every jar gets something!
Record your first week to start your streak.
Payday
Give every dollar a job
I'm giving my money these jobs
Every jar gets something, even a little.
Type in your money to start.
Spend jar
I spent some money
Transfer day
Move money from Save to Spend
You can do this once a month. Think about your Save goals first.
Invest jar
Locked for later Locked
Invest money stays put. That's how it has time to grow. You can't take money out of this jar, but you can watch it grow in Chapter 6.
My money history
Made a mistake? Tap × to remove an entry.
Your step
Record your first payday and give every dollar a job.
Chapter 6 · For parents Do together
How investing grows
The Invest jar is the one that changes everything, because it has the one thing kids have plenty of: time.
Explaining it to your child
Try this: "When you invest, your money goes to work. Over time it can earn a little more money. Then that new money earns money too. The longer you leave it, the faster it grows. That's called compound growth."
A tree is a good picture for younger kids. A seed doesn't look like much, but if you leave it in the ground and look after it, it grows into something much bigger than you planted. Digging it up to check on it stops it growing. That's why the Invest jar stays locked.
Where the Invest money goes
For many families, the Invest jar starts as a separate account that earns interest. As your child gets older, you may want to look at investing for them. Rules and options for investing on behalf of children vary, so speak with a licensed financial adviser or your accountant before you choose.
Worksheet
Watch it grow
This is an example only, not a prediction. Real investments go up and down, and growth isn't guaranteed.
Your step
Sit down with your child and use Watch it grow with their weekly Invest amount.
Chapter 7 · For parents
Age by age, and tricky moments
The three jars work from age 5 to 12. What changes is how much your child does on their own.
What to add as they grow
| Age | They're ready for | How to run the jars |
|---|---|---|
| 5 to 8 | Counting money, waiting a few weeks for something | Real jars and coins. You sit with them every payday and help with the reading and typing. Keep Save goals small and close. |
| 9 to 10 | Choosing their own split, comparing prices, goals a few months away | They fill in the tracker themselves while you check in. Talk about why they chose their split. |
| 11 to 12 | Percentages, earning extra, online spending, how investing works | A bank account or kids' banking app alongside the tracker. Let them run payday on their own. |
Tricky moments
| When they say | You could say |
|---|---|
| "Can I use my Invest money for this?" | "Invest money is for later. Let's see what your Save jar can do instead." |
| "I want to put it all in Spend this week." | "Every jar needs something, even a little. How much goes in Spend is up to you." |
| "I've already spent all my Spend money." | "That happens. Payday isn't far away. What would you do differently next week?" |
| "Can I move Save money again this month?" | "Transfer day is once a month. That's what helps your goals grow." |
| "My friend gets more pocket money." | "Every family is different. What matters is having a plan for yours." |
The hardest part for parents is not topping them up. When they run out, let them feel it. A small lesson at 8 saves a big one at 28.
Worksheet
Your step
Find the age row that fits your child and choose one thing to add.
Chapter 8 · For parents Do together
Keep it going
A habit is built by doing the same small thing, every week, for a long time. Here's the routine that makes it stick.
The payday routine (10 minutes)
The monthly money chat
On transfer day, sit down together for a few minutes. Your child answers these, and you listen more than you talk.
Kid worksheet
Celebrate the wins
When your child reaches a Save goal, make a moment of it. Let them buy it themselves and hand over the money. That feeling is what makes them want to do it again.
Your next step
Want the same system for your own money? My workbook The Working Mum's Money Reset walks you through it, one chapter at a time. And for ongoing support, come and join my Skool community, From Broke To Woke.
- Skool community: skool.com/tautua-leadhers-9528
- Instagram: @tautua.moneytalks
- Facebook: facebook.com/tautua.moneytalks
Your step
Put payday and transfer day in your calendar as repeating events.
Important information
This workbook contains general information only. It is not personal financial advice and does not take into account your family's objectives, financial situation or needs. The growth figures in Chapter 6 are examples only and are not a prediction. Investments can go down as well as up. For advice about investing for your children, speak with a licensed financial adviser.
The banking and tax tips in this workbook are general information, checked in October 2026. Banks set their own rules, and tax rules can change, so check with your bank, the ATO or your accountant before you act.
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