Pocket Money, Big Decisions: A Family Adventure in Money, Spending and Saving

Pocket Money, Big Decisions: A Family Adventure in Money, Spending and Savings is a free, interactive, in-person family workshop for children aged 6–12 and their parents or carers.

The event will use hands-on activities, games and collaborative challenges to help families explore how people make decisions about money in their everyday lives. Participants will work together through a series of age-appropriate activities focused on spending, saving, budgeting, needs and wants, and making choices when resources are limited.

The main focus of the event is the interactive workshop activities. These may include a "needs or wants?" challenge, a budgeting game using tokens or play money, family decision-making exercises, savings goal activities, and facilitated discussions that connect the activities to social science research on financial decision-making.

The workshop is expected to last approximately 90 minutes and will be delivered in person in a family-friendly community venue in Cambridge. 

This event explores how children and families make everyday decisions about money, spending and saving.

Using the familiar concept of pocket money as a starting point, families will investigate topics such as budgeting, prioritising needs and wants, saving towards goals, and how different factors influence financial choices. Participants will also consider how decisions may change when resources are limited and how small choices can lead to larger financial outcomes over time.

Through fun, interactive activities, the workshop will demonstrate how social science helps us understand financial behaviours and decision-making. Families can expect a shared learning experience that encourages discussion, curiosity and reflection about money in a supportive and engaging environment.

The event will be led by Dr Eirini Gkouskou, Associate Professor in Early Years and Primary Education.

The workshop may also be supported by colleagues with expertise in financial wellbeing and MA Early Years Education students who work directly with children.

The event is open to children aged 6–12 and their parents, carers or family members.

No prior knowledge of social science, economics or finance is required. The activities are designed to be accessible, inclusive and suitable for families from all backgrounds.

This event will be of particular interest to families with children aged 6–12 who want to explore money, spending and saving together in a fun and interactive way.

It may be especially relevant for parents and carers who would like to encourage conversations about financial decision-making, budgeting and saving, and for children who are beginning to develop independence in making spending choices and managing pocket money.

The workshop will also appeal to families interested in practical everyday financial wellbeing and learning together through games, discussion and hands-on activities.

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