Children don't need to be making big financial decisions for money to be a big part of their lives.
As they grow more independent, children are making choices about spending, encountering money online and noticing differences in what people can afford. They have questions about money, and opportunities to talk about it can help them make sense of their experiences and develop confidence as they grow.
This Talk Money Week (2–6 November 2026), Just Finance Foundation (JFF) is encouraging families, schools and anyone working with children to make time for these conversations. Our free conversation cards for children aged 4–12 offer a starting point, helping children explore money in ways that are relevant to their lives.
What happens when children start talking about money?
When assistant headteacher Lucy saw the impact of rising living costs on families in her school community, she wanted to help children develop the understanding of money they'd need as they grew older.
Through JFF's LifeSavers financial education programme, she began using stories, activities and discussion to help pupils explore money in ways that connected with their everyday lives.
As Lucy explains in our 2025 Impact Report:
"[JFF’s] conversation cards have sparked lots of discussion and got children thinking more deeply about money. It can be daunting to know where to start with implementing financial education and ensure its high quality, but LifeSavers has made this easy."
Conversations a key part of financial education. They give children opportunities to question what they know, hear different perspectives and develop their understanding over time. Rather than simply learning what to do with money, children can begin to explore why people make different choices and how their circumstances influence those decisions.
This matters because children's experiences of money aren't all the same. Some may be familiar with saving pocket money, while others are beginning to make purchases in online games or are aware of financial pressures at home. Creating opportunities to explore money without judgement or pressure to share personal circumstances helps make these discussions relevant and accessible.
Start talking about money this Talk Money Week
This Talk Money Week, we've created free conversation cards to help you explore these questions with children aged 4–12, whether at home or in the classroom.
You don't need specialist financial knowledge or lots of preparation. Choose a question, give children time to think and let them explain their answers.
At JFF, we believe financial education should help children develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need throughout their lives. These conversations are one part of that learning, and something we can continue to encourage as children grow.
Build your free Talk Money Week conversation pack
About Talk Money Week
Talk Money Week is an annual UK campaign run by the Money and Pensions Service that encourages open conversations about money. This year, it runs from 2–6 November 2026, with the theme “It All Counts”, focusing on realistic, manageable actions.