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Ages 7+ · Money · Saving and budgets
A goal that is far away
📋a chart🫙a jar🥁the drum
Twelve boxes, one each week.
The big ideaA far-away goal is reached one week at a time. Patience and a plan help.

How it works

Zoe's drum cost 24 coins and she could save 2 coins a week, so it would take 12 weeks.

A far-away goal is reached one week at a time. Zoe drew 12 boxes and ticked one each week.

A picture of the goal, a chart and a jar of coins help you keep going.

A small step is still a step. Waiting does not mean doing nothing: Zoe kept saving.

Weeks to save 24 coins024681012122 a week83 a week64 a week46 a weekweeks
How many weeks to save 24 coins.
04812162024+4+4+4+4+4+4
Saving 4 coins a week: 6 hops reach 24.

Example 1: Counting the weeks

  1. The drum costs 24 coins.
  2. Zoe saves 2 coins a week.
  3. After 6 weeks she has 12 coins.
  4. 12 + 12 = 24
  5. She needs 6 more weeks, so 12 weeks in all.

Example 2: Halfway

  1. After 6 weeks Zoe has 12 coins.
  2. 12 + 12 = 24
  3. So 12 is half of 24, and Zoe is halfway.

Example 3: A faster plan

  1. With 3 coins a week: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 24
  2. That is 8 threes, so it takes 8 weeks.

Example 4: Saving more each week

  1. 2 coins a week takes 12 weeks.
  2. 3 coins a week takes 8 weeks.
  3. 4 coins a week takes 6 weeks.
  4. More coins each week means fewer weeks.

Words to know

goal
Something you are saving for.
plan
The steps you will take, like twelve boxes to tick.
patience
Keeping on, one week at a time, until you get there.
chart
Boxes on a wall to tick off.

Watch out

Try it

  1. Zoe saves 2 coins a week. How many coins after 4 weeks?
  2. The drum costs 24 coins and Zoe has 12. How many more does she need?
  3. At 4 coins a week, how many weeks to save 24 coins?
  4. What helps Zoe keep going?
Answers: 1. 8 · 2. 12 · 3. 6 · 4. A picture of the goal, a chart and a jar
Try at homeWith a grown-up, pick a goal that takes a while and draw a chart of boxes to tick off as you go.
For grown-upsPick a goal that takes a while, draw a chart of boxes together, and tick one off each week. Talk about how a small step every week gets you there.
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