Teaching kids about money doesn’t have to be boring—just ask my two little financial “experts,” Benji (7) and Jacob (9). Whether they’re negotiating an allowance raise or blowing their entire savings on Pokémon cards, they’re always finding creative ways to handle money (some better than others). That’s why I started looking for fun and engaging money games to teach them real-world financial skills.
Through money games and hands-on activities, they’ve learned the basics of budgeting, saving, investing, and smart spending—without even realizing they’re learning! If you’re looking for money management games that make financial lessons stick, this guide has you covered with the best educational games to help kids and teens master money in a way that’s fun, interactive, and actually works.
1. Money Match-Up (Teaches: Identifying Money & Making Change)
How to Play:
- Create two sets of cards: one with pictures of money (coins and bills) and another with their values (e.g., a dime and “10 cents”).
- Kids match the money games images with their correct values.
- Once they master matching, they “buy” small items using play money, making change correctly.
- The player who completes the most successful transactions wins!
In Action:
Benji (7) and Jacob (9) sit at the kitchen table, eyeing a stack of colorful cards in front of them. One set has pictures of coins and bills, while the other has their values. “This is one of the best money management games ever!” I announce. Jacob flips over a card with a nickel on it and groans. “Ugh, I always mix up the nickel and the dime!” Benji smirks and picks up a quarter.
Now it’s time for the money game challenge. I set up a pretend store, and they each get play money to “shop.” “Welcome to Dad-Mart!” I say, pointing to items labeled with price tags. Benji buys a toy for $2.50, hands me a $5 bill, and freezes. “Uh-oh. How much change do I get?” Jacob grins. “You get back $2.50!” A quick money for teens lesson without them realizing they’re learning!
By the end, they’ve mastered money games by recognizing bills, adding and subtracting, and making change. This fun and interactive educational game helps them develop real-world money management skills in an engaging way!
2. The Smart Shopper Challenge (Teaches: Budgeting & Wise Spending)
How to Play:
- Each player gets a pretend budget ($20, $50, etc.).
- Players shop from a list of items with different price tags, staying within their budget.
- Throw in a surprise expense (e.g., “Oops! You lost $5!”) to teach unexpected costs.
- The winner is the one who gets the most value out of their money.
In Action:
I hand Jacob and Benji each a pretend budget of $20 and a shopping list with items they love—Pokémon cards, candy, a toy car, and a book. “Remember, this is a money game—you need to be smart with your spending,” I tell them.
Jacob carefully picks a book and candy, spending exactly $18. Benji blows $15 on a giant bag of gummy bears and panics when he doesn’t have enough for the toy car. “Wait! I wanna change my choices!” he pleads. “Sorry, buddy! That’s not how money games work,” I chuckle.
Just when they think they’ve figured it out, I hit them with a twist. “Oh no! There was an unexpected expense—sales tax!” Jacob adjusts quickly, while Benji groans. Through this educational game, they learn that money management games require planning, budgeting, and making smart choices—skills essential for real-life money-making for teens.
3. The Job Fair Game (Teaches: Earning & Hard Work)
How to Play:
- Create a list of small jobs kids can do around the house, assigning each a pretend salary.
- Kids choose which jobs to complete and track their earnings.
- At the end, they can “spend” their earnings on small rewards.
- This money management game teaches that money isn’t free—it’s earned!
In Action:
“Welcome to the Money Games Job Fair!” I announce, posting a list of chores with payments: dusting = $1, organizing the bookshelf = $2, watering plants = $3. “Choose wisely!” I warn.
Jacob, always strategic, goes for the high-paying tasks. Benji, however, groans. “Do I have to work?” “Nope,” I reply. “But no work means no money!” He sighs and does a few small jobs. At the end, Jacob has $5, while Benji only has $3.
When it’s time to “shop” for rewards, Jacob easily buys a big ice cream cone, while Benji can only afford a small scoop. “I should’ve done one more chore,” Benji realizes. This money game is an eye-opener—teaching money for teens that hard work equals more financial freedom. Learn more about making chores fun and engaging!
4. Money Quest: The Investing Adventure (Teaches: Investing & Long-Term Growth)
How to Play:
- Each child gets $10 in pretend money to invest in different “companies.”
- They choose between low-risk and high-risk options.
- Every round, roll dice to see if their businesses grow or lose value.
- The goal is to grow their investment over time.
In Action:
I hand Jacob and Benji $10 in play money. “You’re now investors in the best money games money games challenge!” I explain. They can invest in “Coke.,” a slow-but-steady business, or “Nvidia,” a risky one.
Jacob splits his money, investing cautiously. Benji, being a gambler, throws everything into Video Game Inc. “Big money, no whammies!” he chants. The first round? Both businesses grow. The second round? Nvidia crashes. “NOOOO!” Benji yells, realizing he lost half his investment. Meanwhile, Jacob’s steady investments keep growing (plus he earned dividends with his Coke investment, which is a story for another day).
By the end, Jacob has earned more money, and Benji has learned a valuable lesson: diversify your investments! This educational game makes financial games fun, helping kids grasp key investing principles.
5. The Entrepreneur Game (Teaches: Starting a Business & Money Management)
How to Play:
- Kids create a small business (lemonade stand, bake sale, etc.).
- They get a set budget to buy materials and must decide how to price their products.
- They “sell” their goods and track profits.
- The game ends when they tally up their earnings and reinvest or spend their money.
In Action:
Jacob and Benji decide to run a lemonade stand. I give them $5 in startup money and let them choose between cheap ingredients (lower quality, lower cost) or premium ingredients (higher quality, higher cost).
To take our lemonade stand game to the next level, I had Benji and Jacob use their Greenlight debit cards—a kid-friendly card that lets parents set spending limits, track purchases, and even pay interest on savings. Instead of using play money, they managed their lemonade stand earnings digitally, just like real business owners.
Jacob, ever the strategist, set up a budget on the Greenlight app, tracking ingredient costs and profits. Benji, on the other hand, got a little too swipe-happy, buying extra decorations that cut into their earnings. When they checked their balance at the end of the day, it hit them—spending wisely means more money left over. With tools like Greenlight, money management games turn into real-life lessons, giving kids hands-on experience with budgeting, saving, and smart spending decisions.
Benji wants to spend all the money on decorations, while Jacob insists on focusing on better ingredients. They compromise and set up shop. Customers (me, Mom, and their stuffed animals) buy their lemonade. They quickly see how pricing and product quality affect profits.
At the end, they count their earnings and debate reinvesting in more supplies. “Do we spend it all now or save for next time?” Jacob wonders. Boom. That’s the lesson! This money game teaches the fundamentals of money for teens, money management games, and the importance of smart decision-making.
Final Thoughts
These money games are the ultimate way to make money for teens fun and educational. From money management games to financial games, each activity turns complex financial concepts into exciting challenges.
Which of these money games would your kids love the most? Let me know in the comments! 😊💰