Giving
Money isn't only for buying things for ourselves.
What is giving?
We can choose to use some of our money to help others. That's giving — and it's one of the three things money can do, alongside spending and saving.
Spend, Save & Give
Spend
Money for things you choose to buy.
Save
Money you keep for a future goal.
Give
Money you choose to give to help others.
One real family splits their $5-a-week pocket money like this — it's an example, not the only correct way to do it:
What can giving look like?
Giving can take lots of forms:
Real examples kids might recognise: Daffodil Day at school, or donating to an organisation that provides pyjamas to children in need. There's no single "correct" cause — what matters is choosing something that means something to your family.
Giving is voluntary
Nobody has to give. The point of this lesson isn't to say giving is required — it's to help children understand that money can have a purpose beyond themselves, and that generosity is something you can choose.
How would you use $5?
You have $5. How might you choose to split it between spending, saving and giving? There's no single correct answer — it's your call.
Talk with your child about causes your family cares about. Where possible, help them understand where their donated money actually goes — connecting giving to a real-world impact makes it far more meaningful than an abstract idea.
A $1 coin dropping into a Give jar is a simple, visible reminder that they've chosen to give.
Where to next
Before spending money, it helps to know whether something is a need or just a want. That's next.
Next lesson: Needs vs Wants
Understanding the difference helps make every spending decision easier.