Kids budgeting template: use this 5-minute weekly money check-in to help your child practice saving, spending, and simple goal-setting—without turning it into a lecture.
If you want kids to actually learn money skills, you don’t need a big “finance lesson.” You need a tiny weekly routine that turns allowance (or earnings) into simple decisions.
This post gives you a 5-minute weekly money check-in plus a copy/paste budgeting template you can use right away.
Related: For fun ways to practice money decisions, see games to teach kids about money.
The 5-minute weekly money check-in
Do this on the same day each week (payday works best):
- Count what came in: allowance, bonus chores, gifts.
- Split into buckets: Save / Spend / Give (or Save / Spend).
- Track one line: what they spent on and how it felt (happy, meh, regret).
- Pick one goal: “What are we saving for next?”
- Set one rule: “No impulse buys over $X without sleeping on it.”
Choose your system: 2 buckets or 3 buckets
- 2 buckets (simplest): Save / Spend
- 3 buckets (best habit): Save / Spend / Give
Starter split ideas:
- Ages 5–8: Save 50% / Spend 50%
- Ages 8–12: Save 40% / Spend 50% / Give 10%
- Teens: Save 50% / Spend 40% / Give 10% (or adjust to goals)
Copy/paste: kids budgeting template
Paste this into a note, print it, or keep it in a family doc.
Weekly Money Check-In Template
| Item | This Week |
|---|---|
| Date | __________ |
| Money In (allowance, chores, gifts) | $__________ |
| Save | $__________ |
| Spend | $__________ |
| Give (optional) | $__________ |
| Goal I’m saving for | __________________________ |
| How close am I? | $__________ / $__________ |
| One thing I spent on | __________________________ |
| Did it feel worth it? | 😊 Yes / 😐 Not sure / 😕 No |
| One money rule for next week | __________________________ |
Examples by age
Ages 5–8
- Goal: “Save for a LEGO set”
- Rule: “We wait 1 day before buying toys.”
- Tip: Use jars so they can see progress.
Ages 8–12
- Goal: “Save for a game / outing”
- Rule: “No spending your Save bucket.”
- Tip: Let them make one “meh” purchase—then talk about it calmly.
Teens
- Goal: “Save for a phone upgrade / big purchase”
- Rule: “Impulse buys over $X require sleeping on it.”
- Tip: Add a category for “fuel/food/going out” if they drive.
Pair this with chores + allowance
If you want a complete system (chores, allowance, rules, and consistency tips), use this guide:
Chores and allowance system for kids (by age)
FAQs
What if my kid spends everything?
That’s part of learning. Keep the tone neutral, then ask: “Was it worth it?” and “What do you want to do differently next week?”
Do I have to include ‘Give’?
No. Start with Save/Spend and add Give later when it feels natural.
How do I keep this from becoming a lecture?
Keep it to 5 minutes. One win, one goal, one rule. Done.
Make it stick: one mini-challenge per week
To keep kids interested, add a tiny “money challenge” each week. Keep it simple and specific so it feels like a game, not homework.
- No-spend day: pick one day to spend $0 and write down what they did instead.
- Needs vs. wants: before buying anything, label it “need” or “want” and explain why.
- Price check: compare two options and choose the better value (even for small purchases).
- Save boost: add $1 to the Save bucket for every day they don’t impulse-buy.
These quick challenges reinforce budgeting, self-control, and goal-setting—without making the weekly check-in longer.
Troubleshooting: when the template “doesn’t work”
- If they spend everything: add one rule: the Save bucket can’t be spent for 30 days.
- If they lose motivation: pick a fun, visible goal (toy, outing, game) and track progress weekly.
- If it turns into arguing: keep the check-in to 5 minutes—one win, one goal, one rule, done.
- If they’re older: add a simple category like “going out/food” so they see where money really goes.
Conclusion
A weekly money check-in is the fastest way to turn allowance into real financial literacy. Keep it short, repeat it weekly, and watch their habits improve over time.