Freddy's Toy Store Lesson

Today, I am going shopping at the mall with Mom. I love shopping trips because we usually go by the toy section. As we strolled through the aisles, my eyes landed on a shiny red remote-control car. It was just what I had always wanted.

“Mom! Look at this! Can I get it?” I asked excitedly, holding up the box.

Mom looked at the price tag and then at me. “It’s $25. We have not quite reached the mark to buy a toy. Do you have enough money saved up?”

My excitement faded. I asked Mom to check my account balance. After checking it, I sighed. “I only have $8.”

Mom raised an eyebrow and asked, “What happened to the rest of your money? You’ve been getting your allowance every week. What have you been spending it on?”

I thought for a moment and shrugged. “I guess I bought a lot of snacks and some comic books, but I didn’t keep track.”

Mom smiled gently. “Sounds like you’ve been spending without a plan. Let’s sit down when we get home and come up with a budget. That way, you can save for big things like this toy.”

I nodded, still holding the remote-control car. “Okay, but can we come back for the car once I save enough?”

“Of course,” Mom said, “but first, let’s work on a plan.”

That evening, Mom and I sat down at the kitchen table with a notebook and a pen.

“First, let’s figure out how much money you get each week,” Mom said.

“I get $5,” I replied.

“Great. Now, let’s divide it into three parts,” Mom continued. “One part for saving, one part for spending, and one part for sharing or giving to others. What do you think?”

I thought about it and nodded. “Okay! I can save $2, spend $2, and use $1 to help others.”

“Perfect,” Mom said. “If you save $2 each week, how many weeks will it take to save $25 for the toy?”

Mom helped me work it out using a calculator. “It’ll take about 13 weeks.”

“That’s right,” Mom said. “If you stick to your plan, you’ll have enough money in three months. And don’t forget, budgeting helps you save for lots of things—not just this toy.”

Mom helped me write down my first money goal: Save $25 for a remote-control car. She also showed me how to track my savings each week.

I felt proud of my new plan. “This makes sense, Mom. I didn’t realize how much I was spending on little things. I’m going to stick to my budget.”

“That’s the key,” Mom said. “A budget is like a map—it helps you reach your goals. And when you finally save enough, buying that toy will feel even better because you worked hard for it.”

After 13 weeks of saving diligently and sticking to my budget, Mom and I returned to the toy store. I swiped my card for $25 and walked out holding the shiny red remote-control car in my hands. I felt a sense of accomplishment like never before.

“Thanks for teaching me about budgeting, Mom,” I said as we left the store. “I think I’m going to save up for a soccer ball next!”

Mom smiled. “That sounds like a great plan. I’m proud of you.”