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39 Money Journal Topics for Kids (What Do they Know about Money?)

Money journal topics for kids that will help them express themselves, and help YOU know how to move forward with their money education.

Journal topics for kids to work through are a great way to not only increase writing skills, but to get a better idea on their thoughts, feelings, and knowledge around a specific subject.

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These money journaling prompts for kids will help you to pre-asses before diving into financial literacy lessons.

You'll find out more about:

  • What your kid knows about money/where they’re at
  • What they want to learn about money
  • How they feel about money
  • Where you can redirect some money myths they’ve picked up (or created – don’t you just love kid’s imaginations?)

Exciting, right?

Let’s dive in.

Money Journal Prompts for Kids

Pick and choose from these daily money journal prompt ideas below.

Hint: their answers could make a great contribution to a time capsule. Imagine how funny their writing on money will be to them a decade or even five years from now!

1. A space alien lands in your backyard and wants to understand what money is. Explain it to them.

2. Something I want to be able to buy one day using my own money is…

3. Which Disney character do you think has the most money (is the “richest”)? Why do you think that?

4. By the time I’m my mother’s age, I’ll be making $____________. Here’s how/because __________.   

5. Share a time when someone was very generous with you. What made this act a generous one in your mind?

6. Describe something that you bought with your own money, and how you felt about buying it.

7. What is one thing you don’t like about money? Why?

8. What is one thing you love about money? Why?

9. You have this amazing idea for a new invention. But it’s going to cost $1,000 for the materials to make it. How do you get the money?

10. Name something you’re grateful that you have. Did this cost money, or was it free?

11. Martians are coming to take over the earth next week. What is one thing you spend your money on now?

12. You have a genie in a bottle. What is a money wish you want fulfilled?

13. You’ve won $10,000 in the lottery. Would you give any money away? Why or why not?

14. Do you think actors and actresses should earn more money than the President of the United States? Why or why not?

15. Name something you want right now that you could borrow from someone instead of buying. What's stopping you from asking them to borrow it?

16. Something I want to buy my mother or father is __________.

17. Here’s what I want to do with my first paycheck when I’m an adult.

18. Here’s what I want to do with my first paycheck when I’m a teenager.

19. Ideas I have for how to make money this summer.

20. Here’s how much I think a teacher earns each year, and why.

21. What I keep in my wallet OR what I’m going to keep in my wallet when I’m an adult.

22. When I grow up and go grocery shopping, I’ll _________.

23. I would like to change the color of money to _________.

24. Here’s what I think bankers do.

25. Here’s how I want to spend the next amount of money that I get.

26. Something you overheard someone talking about that has to do with money that you don’t quite understand, and what you think it might mean.

27.  How do you keep track of your money? Do you have a bank account? A wallet/purse? Money jars? How often do you count the money or check a the balance?

28. Are you more like your Dad or your Mom when it comes to money management? Why is that?

29. What’s a mistake you made with money, and what did you learn from that?

30. What’s something you find difficult about money, and why?

31. What would you like to ask someone about money who lived 150 years ago?

32. I feel like I don’t understand _______ about money. Here’s what I think it might mean.

33. What’s something that your parents spend money on that you think is a waste, and why? What do you think they should spend that money on instead?

34. Do you think a second bathing suit/swim trunks is a need or a want? Talk about why you think that way.

35. Do you think loaning money to your friend or sister/brother is a good idea? Why or why not?

36. You have $150 to spend – what would you buy to redo your bedroom with that money?

37. Write a short story about money that begins with this sentence: “I looked down on the sidewalk, and found a quarter…”

38. Who would you like to buy presents for at Christmas time, and how much do you think you’ll need for it?

39. If I could change one thing about money, it would be…

I can’t think of a better way for you to get clear on how to move forward with your child’s money education than to give them these fun and interesting money journal prompts. Let them share with you what they’ve written, and take a few mental notes on topics to start covering with them.  

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Amanda L. Grossman is a writer and Certified Financial Education Instructor, a 2017 Plutus Foundation Grant Recipient, and founder of Money Prodigy. Her money work has been featured on Experian, GoBankingRates, PT Money, CA.gov, Rockstar Finance, the Houston Chronicle, and Colonial Life. Amanda is the founder and CEO of Frugal Confessions, LLC. Read more here or on LinkedIn.