Money math and money jars for kids

Step 1: what does one cost to make?

Add up the supplies and divide by how many you can make. For example, a slime batch that costs about $23 and makes 10 tubs costs about $2.30 a tub. Dreamstand's starter supply lists do this math for you.

Step 2: pick a price

The price should be more than what one costs, so you keep some. If nobody buys, the price may be too high; if you sell out fast, maybe too low. Changing it is part of learning.

Step 3: see what you keep

Type in the cost and the price and Dreamstand shows, as you type, how much you keep on each one and what share of the price is profit. You can also add how many minutes one takes to make, because your time is worth something too.

Step 4: set a goal

Name something you're saving for, like a new bike, and how much it costs. Dreamstand shows a jar filling up and how many more you need to sell to get there.

Step 5: log what really happened

After each selling day, log how many you sold, money in, and money spent. A scoreboard adds it up: total sold, money in, money kept, and your best day.

The four money jars

When money comes in, a kid splits it into four jars. The suggested split is a starting point, and you can change it:

Kids can also log spending from a jar and see a money history, so saving, giving, reinvesting, and spending on purpose all become habits.

Who holds the real money?

A grown-up does. Dreamstand never takes or holds payments. A grown-up can list how the family gets paid (cash, Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, Zelle, or Square) so it can be shown on a flyer or as a QR code.

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