Keep-Safe Money: Plan for Surprises

What your kid learns

• Surprises happen

  Surprise costs happen to everyone. You might lose a library book. Headphones might break. You might forget to plan for a birthday gift.

• Keep-safe money stays put

  Keep-safe money stays saved. It isn’t for wants. A goal gets used up. Keep-safe money waits for a surprise.

• Use it, then refill it

  If a surprise uses it, fill it back up. Then you’re ready again. Grown-ups call this an emergency fund.

The story: The Case of the Lost Library Book

In a living room, Leo pays for a lost library book with keep-safe money, so the scooter goal stays safe.

1. Helper: Uh-oh, detectives! Leo lost a library book.
2. Leo: A new one costs a pretend $5. My Save jar is for a scooter.
3. Kid: Do you have keep-safe money?
4. Leo: Yes! I keep some saved just for surprises.
5. Leo: I’ll use $5 of it. My scooter goal stays safe.
6. Kid: Then refill it, so you’re ready next time.
7. Helper: Case closed! Surprises happen. Be ready.

The game: Surprise Cards

Draw a surprise card. Pick how to pay. Does the scooter goal stay safe? Pretend money.

Games use pretend money and work with taps or a keyboard. Nothing is timed.

New words

keep-safe money

money saved just for surprises

Also called: emergency fund

surprise cost

a cost you didn’t plan for

Also called: unexpected expense

refill

put money back after you use it

Questions at the end

• What is keep-safe money for?
• Leo wants a new game. Should Leo use keep-safe money?
• You used keep-safe money for a surprise. What comes next?

Remember this

Surprises happen. Be ready.

Talk about it

Ask: what’s one surprise a kid might need keep-safe money for?

Try it at home: List 3 surprises

1. List 3 surprise costs a kid might face.
2. Talk with a grown-up about how to be ready.

List 3 surprises a kid might face.

School standards

• National Standards for Personal Financial Education: Saving
• National Standards for Personal Financial Education: Managing Risk
• Common Core Math 4.OA.A.3