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Money · Ages 10+ · Set A
A limit is not a target
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Remember: A limit is the most a bank allows. It is a top, not a goal. Room under it is a cushion for surprises, and how far to go is your own choice.

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Two cards in PennywellIn the pretend town of Pennywell, a plain card slid out of Tess's envelope, and the letter said, "Your limit is twenty coins." A limit is the most the bank lets Tess owe at one time, like a ceiling she can stay well under, or bump. Kit grinned. "Twenty coins! Why not spend them all?" Tess bought a bike lamp for five coins, and the bank paid the shop, so Tess owed the bank five, because owing is not owning and every coin used is paid back. Five of the twenty were used, which left fifteen coins of room. Kit bought a drum for eight coins, a kite for six and a robot for five. Eight and six and five make nineteen, which left one coin of room. Next morning both bikes had a flat tire, and mending one cost six coins. Tess tapped her card: five and six made eleven used, so nine coins of room were left. Kit tapped too, but with just one coin of room the reader said no. "You are not in trouble, Kit," said the mender, "the limit just ran out." At month's end the bills came, eleven coins for Tess and nineteen for Kit, because every coin used is paid back. Room under the limit works like a cushion that catches surprises.
1
Tess's limit is 20 coins. She uses 5 on a lamp, so coins of room are left.
2
Kit buys a drum, a kite and a robot, shown by the rings. Together that is coins used.
3
A limit is a goal to reach each month.
TrueFalse
4
Circle every true sentence about a limit.
It is the most the bank lets you owe at one timeIt is coins that belong to TessIt is a ceiling you can stay well underIt is a gift of free coins from the bankEvery coin used is paid back
5
Tess has used 11 of 20. The room left is 20 − 11 = .
6
Why could Tess pay for the flat tire, but Kit could not?
Tess had left room under her limit, and Kit had only one coin of roomKit was in troubleTess had more coins of her own

Compare, fix and think

7
Look at the bills. Kit's bill is coins bigger than Tess's.
8
The bank raises Tess's limit to 30. What did that change?
Tess owes lessTess has more coinsThe top moved up
9
Number what happened to Kit.
  • Kit buys a drum for eight
  • A flat tire costs six to mend
  • Kit buys a kite and a robot
  • The reader says no
10
Kit says: a bigger limit means a bigger wallet. Is Kit right?
YesNo
11
Look at the room left. A 12-coin surprise may come. Which one leaves room for it?
10 used15 used5 used
12
Tess's new limit is 30 and she still owes 11. Her room is now 30 − 11 = .
13
Write one way to stay well under a limit.
14
Draw a ceiling and a line well under it. Label the room.
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