How to play a family money quiz night
This is a quiz for one phone and up to six players. Everyone picks an animal, a color and a level, then you pass the phone around the kitchen table. Each turn is one question at your own level. Nobody types a name, nobody signs up, and the whole thing takes about 5 to 10 minutes per player.
- Choose players. Add 1 to 6 players. Each one picks an animal and a color, such as Blue Fox or Gold Owl.
- Pick a level for each player. A 6-year-old and a grown-up can play together because each gets questions made for them.
- Pass the phone. A "pass the phone" screen hides the question until the right player is ready.
- Answer, learn, repeat. After every answer you see the right choice and a one-line reason, with the official source named when there is one.
You can play for yourself or as a team. In team mode every point goes into one shared family coin jar. Players can also earn badges, and the family leaderboard keeps the best score for each level on this device.
Why levels make it fair
Instead of multipliers or handicaps, the game matches the questions to the player. A first-try right answer is worth 10 points at every level. Little Coins and Big Coins players get a second try worth 5 points, and three right answers in a row earn a small bonus for everyone. The leaderboard ranks the best percent at each level and always shows the level, so a score from Little Coins is never ranked against one from Money Pro.
| Level | Ages | What the questions cover |
|---|---|---|
| Little Coins | 5 to 7 | Picture questions: coin names, counting coins, which costs more, needs and wants. A grown-up reads aloud. |
| Big Coins | 8 to 10 | Change, saving, simple budgets, who is on U.S. coins and bills, banks and interest. |
| Smart Shopper | 11 to 13 | Discounts, sales tax, simple and compound interest, deposit insurance, scam safety. |
| Money Pro | Teens and grown-ups | Credit, paychecks, investing basics, retirement accounts and fraud protection. |
Money Pro has an optional relaxed timer of 30 or 60 seconds. It can be paused, and when time runs out the answer is simply shown with no points lost.
Talking points for each age
- 5 to 7: Hold the real coins from a jar and match them to the pictures. Ask, "What would you buy for 25 cents?"
- 8 to 10: Let them work out change at the store. Ask, "If you save $2 a week, how long until the bike?"
- 11 to 13: Compare a percent discount with a dollar discount on something they want. Talk about why a text promising a free prize is a red flag.
- Teens and adults: Look at one pay stub together, or check how your bank describes deposit insurance. Make a family rule for what to do when someone asks you to pay with gift cards.
The percent and interest questions use practice numbers, not today's real rates. Questions about rules that can change, such as deposit insurance limits and the end of new penny production in 2025, reflect U.S. rules as of 2026.
Official sources
Every fact in the quiz is general information from official U.S. sources. Here is where to read more:
- U.S. Mint for coins and the people on them
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing for paper money
- FDIC and NCUA for deposit insurance at banks and credit unions
- CFPB Money as You Grow for credit, debit and everyday money habits
- FTC consumer advice for scams, passwords and credit freezes
- IRS, Social Security Administration and Bureau of Labor Statistics for taxes, payroll taxes and prices
- SEC Investor.gov and the Federal Reserve for investing basics and interest rates
The quiz is general education, not financial, tax or legal advice. After playing, try the coin counting game for younger kids, the discount calculator for real sales, or the savings goal calculator to plan a family goal together.
Frequently asked questions
Is the family money quiz safe for kids, and do we need to sign up?
No sign-up is needed. Players pick an animal and a color, so nobody types a name or any personal information. The quiz has no ads and no third-party trackers. Players, scores and badges are saved only in your browser on this device, and the "Clear this device's quiz data" button deletes them. We keep only anonymous round counts, with no cookies and nothing that identifies a player.
How can a 6-year-old and a grown-up compete fairly?
Each player chooses a level that matches their age, and a first-try right answer earns the same 10 points at every level. Younger players also get a second try for 5 points. The leaderboard ranks scores only within the same level, and when players are on different levels the results screen celebrates everyone instead of ranking them.
How do I clear the scores or start fresh?
Use the "Clear this device's quiz data" button in the For grown-ups box next to the quiz and confirm. It removes all saved players, best scores and badges from this browser. Clearing your browser's site data does the same.