What Would You Do With 20 Dollar Pocket Money ?

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Plan how to spend or save $20 pocket money: create a simple budget, list planned purchases, and explain your choices with reasons.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to What Would You Do With 20 Dollar Pocket Money ?

What you need

Paper, pencil, eraser, coloring materials, stickers (optional)

Step 1

Gather your paper pencil eraser coloring materials and stickers and put them on your table.

Step 2

Find a comfy spot to sit and get ready to plan your $20.

Step 3

Write a big title at the top that says "My $20 Plan" and add today's date.

Step 4

Think of one money goal and write it below the title (for example save for a toy or buy snacks).

Step 5

Draw three boxes across the page and label them "Save" "Spend" and "Share."

Step 6

Decide how many dollars to put in each box so the amounts add up to $20 and write those numbers inside the boxes.

Step 7

In the "Spend" box list each planned purchase and write the price next to each item.

Step 8

In the "Save" box write where you will keep the saved money and how long you will save it.

Step 9

In the "Share" box write who or what you will give money to and how much you will give.

Step 10

Write one short sentence next to each item explaining why you chose it.

Step 11

Add all the amounts to check they total $20.

Step 12

Color and decorate your budget with markers crayons or stickers to make it fun and easy to read.

Step 13

Share your finished creation on DIY.org

Help!?

What can we use if we don't have stickers, markers, or crayons from the materials list?

Use cut-out pictures from magazines or print small images instead of stickers and color with colored pencils, regular pencils, or a tablet drawing app as substitutes for markers and crayons so you can still decorate your 'My $20 Plan'.

What should we do if the numbers in the Save, Spend, and Share boxes don't add up to $20?

Use your pencil and eraser to change one of the amounts, double-check each item price listed in the 'Spend' box, and add the three box totals again or use a calculator until the sums equal $20.

How can this activity be adjusted for younger children or older kids?

For younger children, simplify to two boxes ('Save' and 'Spend') and use real coins or play money to place amounts, while older kids can add a savings timeline and percentage goals in the 'Save' box and research real prices for items in the 'Spend' box.

How can we extend or personalize the 'My $20 Plan' once it's finished?

Turn the plan into labeled envelopes or jars for the 'Save', 'Spend', and 'Share' amounts, photograph and decorate the page to share on DIY.org as instructed, and add a small weekly check-off chart to track progress toward the money goal you wrote under the title.

Watch videos on how to What Would You Do With 20 Dollar Pocket Money ?

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Fun Ways To Teach Kids About Saving Money | Kids Money Lessons | Children Financial Literacy | Kids

4 Videos

Facts about money management for kids

💵 Twenty dollars can be one $20 bill or four $5 bills—perfect for practicing counting and making change.

🗓️ Spend $1 a day and $20 lasts 20 days; save $1 a day and you’d have $365 in a year—tiny habits add up fast!

🏦 Put $20 in a savings account at 1% interest and you’d earn about $0.20 in a year—interest grows more when you keep adding.

🎯 A simple Save‑Spend‑Share budget helps kids reach goals and decide what’s most important for each dollar.

🧾 People often spend more with cards than cash—using cash (like a $20) can make budgets easier to follow.

How do you do the 'What Would You Do With $20 Pocket Money' activity?

To run the 'What Would You Do With $20 Pocket Money?' activity, start by explaining the challenge and set goals (save, spend, share). Have the child list wants and needs, estimate prices, and create a simple budget splitting the $20 into categories (for example, $10 save, $7 spend, $3 share). Ask them to list planned purchases and write short reasons for each choice. Finish by reviewing totals, adjusting choices, and reflecting on lessons learned.

What materials do I need for the $20 pocket money planning activity?

You’ll need paper and pencil, a calculator or smartphone for quick price checks, a pretend or real $20 bill or tokens, and an optional printable budget template. Stickers or colored pens help label categories, and envelopes or jars work for saving, spending, and sharing. Price lists, catalogs, or a simple spreadsheet are useful for research. For younger kids, use physical coins or picture cards to make amounts concrete.

What ages is this $20 budgeting activity suitable for?

This activity fits children roughly ages 4–13 with adjustments: preschoolers (4–5) can join using visuals and adult help with coins; elementary kids (6–10) can make simple budgets and explain choices; tweens (11–13) can research realistic prices, set savings goals, and work with percentages. Tailor the complexity and the level of adult support to each child’s reading, math skills, and attention span.

What are the benefits of doing the $20 pocket money planning activity?

This activity builds practical money skills—budgeting, estimating costs, prioritizing, and decision-making—while reinforcing math, reading, and critical thinking. It teaches delayed gratification and empathy when sharing is included, and helps children explain and justify choices, improving communication. Families can use it to discuss values, saving goals, and smart spending habits. Keep the tone positive to encourage learning rather than judging decisions.

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What Would You Do With 20 Dollar Pocket Money ?

Plan how to spend or save $20 pocket money: create a simple budget, list planned purchases, and explain your choices with reasons.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to What Would You Do With 20 Dollar Pocket Money ?

What you need

Paper, pencil, eraser, coloring materials, stickers (optional)

Step 1

Gather your paper pencil eraser coloring materials and stickers and put them on your table.

Step 2

Find a comfy spot to sit and get ready to plan your $20.

Step 3

Write a big title at the top that says "My $20 Plan" and add today's date.

Step 4

Think of one money goal and write it below the title (for example save for a toy or buy snacks).

Step 5

Draw three boxes across the page and label them "Save" "Spend" and "Share."

Step 6

Decide how many dollars to put in each box so the amounts add up to $20 and write those numbers inside the boxes.

Step 7

In the "Spend" box list each planned purchase and write the price next to each item.

Step 8

In the "Save" box write where you will keep the saved money and how long you will save it.

Step 9

In the "Share" box write who or what you will give money to and how much you will give.

Step 10

Write one short sentence next to each item explaining why you chose it.

Step 11

Add all the amounts to check they total $20.

Step 12

Color and decorate your budget with markers crayons or stickers to make it fun and easy to read.

Step 13

Share your finished creation on DIY.org

Help!?

What can we use if we don't have stickers, markers, or crayons from the materials list?

What should we do if the numbers in the Save, Spend, and Share boxes don't add up to $20?

Use your pencil and eraser to change one of the amounts, double-check each item price listed in the 'Spend' box, and add the three box totals again or use a calculator until the sums equal $20.

How can this activity be adjusted for younger children or older kids?

How can we extend or personalize the 'My $20 Plan' once it's finished?

Watch videos on how to What Would You Do With 20 Dollar Pocket Money ?

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Fun Ways To Teach Kids About Saving Money | Kids Money Lessons | Children Financial Literacy | Kids

4 Videos

Facts about money management for kids

💵 Twenty dollars can be one $20 bill or four $5 bills—perfect for practicing counting and making change.

🗓️ Spend $1 a day and $20 lasts 20 days; save $1 a day and you’d have $365 in a year—tiny habits add up fast!

🏦 Put $20 in a savings account at 1% interest and you’d earn about $0.20 in a year—interest grows more when you keep adding.

🎯 A simple Save‑Spend‑Share budget helps kids reach goals and decide what’s most important for each dollar.

🧾 People often spend more with cards than cash—using cash (like a $20) can make budgets easier to follow.