Pocket Money 2, By Knowledge Builder - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Board game that teaches about management of money 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  8 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Older kids who are curious and want to learn more about money management in a fun way!  

I’m guilty of occasional splurges, and “special celebrations” (which coincidentally, includes Christmas 😆🤣) are always great excuses to spend! I am really pleased that there is a game that focuses on the concept of “spend-wisely” without sounding too “preachy”. This is one of our family’s latest favourites - “ Pocket Money 2” from Knowledge Builder ! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Learn Basic Skills to Manage Money Through Play - We love Pocket Money 1, but Pocket Money 2 is of a whole new level for the older kids! We get to learn the basics of managing money, including understanding the differences between “spending money” and “saving money”, need and want (paying phone bills is a “need”, but enjoying a theatre experience is a “want”). We also learn to balance and allocate a portion of money for charity, saving in bank, and unique experiences. Each player will start with $100. To win, you need to have $250 in the bank, purchased 2 Wish cards and 1 Charity card.The key is to spend strategically; eg we should first earn enough cash prior to buying a charity / wish cards to prevent ourselves from getting “bankrupt” too soon. 

(2) Multiplications & Divisions - This is an amazing game to practise mathematics skills through play! For example, the proceeds from “Cupcake Stalls” or “Car Wash” are meant to be shared equally (i.e divided) amongst all players.We also need to calculate total earnings by multiplying hourly rate with the number of work done (eg, 3 hours of supermarket work ($11 per hour) would earn a player $33). Each time a player passes the “Start” space, they earn 20% of the money held in Saving Account. There are also rules about “rounding up” to next ten, exchanging smaller notes and coins for equivalent larger denominations, and a chance to work with decimals and whole numbers. 

(3) Realistic-Looking Aussie Currency Cash - The notes and coins are realistic-looking based on Australian currency. Included are 70 coins and 80 notes (from $5 to $100). I love the money tray  that neatly organised all the cash based on denominations. The notes are made of synthetic paper, not easily tearable, and the coins and tray are made of high-quality ABS plastic. I love the quality and the educational value of this game! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.knowledgebuilder.com.au/product/pocket-money-2-toy-products/ (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Pocket Money 1, By Knowledge Builder - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Educational game for kids to learn about money  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  5 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Parents and kids who love monopoly and looking for something with an "Aussie touch" 

Our family loves classic Monopoly, but I always thought it would be super awesome if we can incorporate actual Australian currency in the game to give it some real “Aussie” touch. So imagine my excitement when Knowledge Builder sent us this “Pocket Money 1”. This is a fantastic game to practise money-counting in Monopoly-style, but with a kids-friendly pocket money theme! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Pocket Money Theme for Kids - The rules can’t be simpler; throw a dice, move your token, earn or spend money as indicated on the landed space, and be the first one to gather $50 in cash. Instead of “purchasing lands”, “building properties”, “paying super tax” or “going to jail” like in Monopoly, what we have in this game are something more relevant to the kids’ day-to-day life. We pay $1.25 for cupcake, earn $2.50 washing grandpa’s car, earn $4.35 from recycled bottles, and ride a merry-go-round for $1.50. The boy loves the “tooth fairy” space that earns us $6.00. I love that the game includes events and tasks that are familiar to kids. This is a great game to reinforce money awareness and to reevaluate our spending habits (the boy said he would never buy another bubble wand ever again 🤣 ). 

(2) Realistic, Aussie Currency Design - The set includes 70 coins and 12 each of $5 and $10 notes. I love the realistic-looking play money, and how they replicate the true Aussie currency design on both sides of the cash (but with the words “Play Money” printed on them), just like the “Play Shop” set I have previously reviewed. We get to spend and earn, practise giving out change, counting cash, and learning about equivalent values (eg two 50c coins have equal value as a $1 coin). This is a perfect example where we get to learn new skills whilst having fun! 

(3) Quality - The notes are made of synthetic paper with fantastic tear-resistant, and the coins are made of light weight durable ABS plastic. I love the foldable game board, and the resealable bags to store the cash. 

I love the simple rules of this game. However, if you are looking for something more challenging for older kids, then “Pocket Money 2” might be a better option. I will review about it next time. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.knowledgebuilder.com.au/product/pocket-money-game-toy-products/

Enjoy the video! 

Let’s Play Shop, by Knowledge Builder - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Fantastic educational resources to learn about money 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  5 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Parents who are looking for money-learning resources + pretend play lovers

My kids LOVE to “play shop”; our house is constantly in a mess with furniture being re-arranged and toy-groceries lined up as display. I am really grateful to Knowledge Builder for providing this set of “Let’s Play Shop” to us for review. This game completes our pretend store set-up, and the kids have great fun learning about money through engaging games! 

Why I love ❤️ this set: 

(1) Realistic Aussie Play Money - I love the realistic-looking play money in Aussie currency! If you are looking for quality educational resources to learn about money denomination, buying-and-selling, and cash-counting in the Aussie way, this set is a MUST-HAVE. I have seen many pretend money sets before, but this is probably the most “useful” one due to the large quantity of play money included (from the smallest 5 cent to $100 note, with a total of 100 of them) ! I love how they replicate the true currency design on both sides of the cash (but with the words “Play Money” printed at the top, of course!). For example, the 50 cent coin is in the shape of 12-sided polygon, featuring the Commonwealth Coat of Arms on one side, and the reigning monarch Elizabeth II on the obverse. $10 note has Banjo Paterson on one side, and poet Dame Mary Gilmore on the reverse.

(2) Shopping Cards & Games - The set also includes 24 laminated shopping cards (with illustration of items and their prices printed on each card). The price tags range from the straightforward (eg $5 for a kite) to the slightly more challenging ones (eg $9.90 for a tennis set). There are 2 suggested games included, but feel free to make up your own games! We created so many “shopping” game versions, from the “I have $45 only dilemma”, “shop keeper with only coins for change”, and “discount day”). I love how versatile these resources are! 

(3) Quality - The notes are made of synthetic paper with fantastic tear-resistant. The coins are made of light weight durable ABS plastic. I love the quality! 

(4) Cash Drawer + Box - I also love the cash drawer with neat compartments moulded with coin denominations labels, and the sturdy storage box that keeps everything tidy and organised! 

I love this product!

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.knowledgebuilder.com.au/product/lets-play-shops-game-toy-products/

Enjoy the video! 

Tiny Tot Money Set, By Plant & Pear Co

Nature/ Type:          Wooden money based on real Aussie currency 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Pretend play lovers + parents who need a great tool to teach about money! 

If you are looking for anything heirloom, artistically delightful, and melts-your-heart in the sweetest way, then The Curated Parcel is your perfect spot for this! We love the range of products stored in this dreamworld of toys, including this Plant & Pear Co “Tiny Tot Money Set”. This is literally one of the VERY BEST pretend money toys I have EVER seen!

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Original-Designed Aussie Pretend Money- This is a one-of-kind Aussie-specific pretend money toy that is rare to find in market! The design of the cash and coins are based on real Australian currency, with meticulously and beautifully laser etched details. The 5 cent coin has a picture of a quill-covered echidna, 10 cent is an ostentatious lyrebird. The platypus image on the 20 cents is a bit hard to discern, just like the real coin where the elusive creature is half-hidden in the swirl of water. The largest 50 cent coin is a 12-sided polygon displaying the Commonwealth Coat of Arms - a shield held by our very native kangaroo and emu! The 1 dollar coin has a picture of 5 kangaroos, and 2 dollar is an image of an aboriginal man and the 5-star constellation of Southern Cross. 

Queen Elizabeth II and a small branch of Eucalyptus are shown on the $5 banknote, poet Dame Mary Gilmore on $10, Reverend John Flynn (the aerial medical service pioneer) on $20, and the indigenous inventor and writer David Unaipon on the $50. YES, each of the money items mimic the real Australian currency, and it’s really fun to put the real things side-by-side with the toy for actual comparison! 

(2) Wooden Material- I have seen various paper cash and plastic coins types, but never have I seen a pure wooden one! We love this durable, handmade-in-Australia, sustainable timber product! 

(3) Awesome Tool To Learn About Money- This toy matches perfectly with the “Tuck Shop Juice Bar” set I shared previously (also available from The Curated Parcel ). The set includes 2 sets each of 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and an organised storage tray. I love the Australian-specific denominations, making this the FANTASTIC educational resource to teach kids about value of money, buying and selling, in actual Aussie currency units! 

LOVE IT! ❤️

# gifted in exchange for review

Where to buy this: 

https://www.thecuratedparcel.com/

Enjoy the video: 

Cash Register, by I’m Toy

Nature/ Type:          Wooden cash register 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Kids who love pretend play  

I have seen quite a few cash register toys in the market. This wooden one from the Thailand brand “I’m Toy” is one of the more sturdy-looking one which can possibly last for many years and be passed down to other families with kids in future. 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Wooden Materials- just like most of the other “I’m Toy” wooden products, this cash register is made of durable and eco-friendly rubber wood and painted with non-toxic and child-safe paints. 

(2) Fun Features- there are few uniqueness in this toy: the buttons are press-able in a soft and slow manner (something which my youngest kid really enjoys doing); the barcode scanner makes a squeaky beeping sound, and the pullout drawer produces a soft and tiny bell sound when it is slammed shut. The microphone is bendable. My favourite feature is the re-attachable cloth receipts that can be rolled up at the holder. I wish there were a bigger roll of receipts as it is really fun to tear the pieces of cloth out from the adhesive snap. There are also a wooden credit card and some wooden coins for pretend shopping play. 

(3) No battery required- I love that we don’t need any battery to play with this set. 

It would be more “complete” if the cash register is functional with solar-powered calculator together with number-display, but these extra features are probably not necessary since the toy is already awesome enough. 

Enjoy the video!