Why Penny Time
Piggy banks teach the wrong lesson
Saving is a good start, but it doesn't show kids the bigger picture: planning ahead, weighing tradeoffs, and understanding consequences. Piggy banks teach kids to save, but not to think. Penny Time teaches how money actually works.
Learning by doing
Kids make real, kid-sized money decisions with their own allowance. They take action, face real consequences, and develop real instincts around money.
Real money, real habits for life
A few minutes a week is all it takes: checking balances, thinking before spending, and understanding that choices matter.
Great for the parent, amazing for the child
Kids maximize their allowance by making smarter choices. Parents get money-smart kids with almost no extra effort.
How it works
The parent is the bank
We never hold or move money. Penny Time works like a simple allowance tracker: you set the allowance and check in occasionally to approve when they want cash.
No bank accounts or IDs needed.
What kids actually do
Kids see short "decision moments" that use tiny amounts of their allowance to teach real-world money skills.
Example decision moment
"Use $3 to help Olli set up his lemonade stand, or keep it?"
If they choose to invest, their money is locked for a few days. Kids get a notification when it plays out and see how it turned out.
Designed for all ages
Best for ages 6 to 14. Younger kids see simple choices, while older kids tackle more complex scenarios at their level.
What do they learn
Financial literacy
By making small financial decisions regularly and watching them play out, kids develop instincts for how choices shape outcomes. It's hands-on practice that becomes second nature.
A word about screen time
We are parents ourselves, so we pay close attention to screen time. Penny Time stays short and focused, designed for just a few minutes each week.
Download Penny Time
Free for the whole family. No credit card needed.
