"Money Talk" At The Grocery Store

"Money Talk" At The Grocery Store

April, 2025

By: Charlene A. Day, PhD

We have all heard the stories of children having a meltdown in the grocery store when they see, and can’t buy, their favorite cereal, snack, etc.   What if going to the grocery store or supermarket became a fun money learning activity for the family.  Below I share a fun activity you can use with a child in your life to start or continue the “money talk.”  Let me know what you think at visitus@savvysistersteach.com please.  

Calling Children of All Ages….Let’s Go Grocery Shopping

Make A Shopping List

• This is a good habit for both the adult and the child.  It helps avoid impulse buying and/or buying when you are hungry (hangry).  Wednesday’s are typically the day that grocery market post sale items for the week. Consider what meals you will make as a family and check your pantry and refrigerator to see what is needed together.   

Let a child in your life help you make the weekly shopping list

• Make an activity out of looking at the stores’ weekly flyer to find out what’s on sale.  Even if the child is not yet reading, have them identify the fruits, the vegetables and other products that you might buy so that the process becomes a familiar one.

• Think about meals they like or foods the child likes. When possible, include the ingredients on your shopping list.

• For young children, encourage them to draw a picture of the food item and bring it with you to the grocery store. 

Share what your budget is for shopping

• What….you don’t have one?  This is a perfect time to make one.  Even if you don’t want to spend the time, perhaps you can figure out 4-5 items you know you need to buy and the cost for them. 

Once at the grocery store, let the child assist in finding the item on the store shelf.  

• Encourage the child to look at the list and then find and pick up the item when possible.  

• If you have agreed upon a certain snack, let them find it on the shelf with your guidance and put it in the cart.  

• Practice reading the price for items on the list aloud.   

• Encourage the child to find the prices of wanted food items (snacks, cereals, etc.,) and read the price aloud.  

Use real cash to purchase some of the items and let the child pay for it. 

• Nothing teaches the lesson that “money comes and money goes” better than dealing with real cash.  A credit card simply doesn’t have that “realistic” feeling for a child.

When you get home, put away the groceries and review your budget together.  

• Did you stay within the budget?  If not, discuss what happened, and discuss together some of the potential outcomes of going off budget?  Do you celebrate when you stay on budget?  You should. 

Make some yummy meals together and continue the process on your next family trip to the grocery store.  

You may be wondering what this activity of making a list, deciding on a budget, going shopping and finding a desired item together, and paying for the product does for the child in your life.   It turns out the answer is really quite simple.   You are creating Real Life Experiences for the child. By shopping together, handling money and having discussions about the true cost of things, the subject of money becomes real.  It also makes talking about other money topics easier.  Why not try it and let us know if it works for you?  Send us a note about your experience with this activity at visitus@savvysistersteach.com.   With your permission we might post it for others to see.