How to play Cent's Winter Market
Cent's Winter Market is a free holiday money game for kids about 6 to 10. The child gets a budget and must buy one gift for each family member, choosing among three gifts with different prices, without spending more than the budget. Then the child pays with a bill and picks the right change.
- Pick the gifts. Each person has three gifts to choose from. A bar shows how much of the budget is used, and the amount left updates after every choice.
- Go to the checkout. If the gifts cost more than the budget, Cent asks the child to swap a gift for a cheaper one.
- Count the change. The child pays with a $10 or $20 bill and picks the right change from three answers, counting up from the price to the bill.
The three levels
- Level 1: $10 for 3 gifts, whole dollars, paid with a $10 bill.
- Level 2: $20 for 4 gifts, whole dollars, paid with a $20 bill.
- Level 3: $15 for 4 gifts with dollars and cents, paid with a $20 bill.
Stars: 3 stars with no mistakes, 2 stars with one or two mistakes, 1 star otherwise. The best stars for each level are kept in this browser only.
For grown-ups
- Talk about the choices: why this gift? Would a cheaper one still make the person happy?
- Point out the money left over: staying under budget is a win, not just spending it all.
- Practice making change in real life: let your child count the change at the store.
- More games and activities: coin counting game, spend, save, give jars and printable money worksheets. Money lessons by age from the CFPB's Money as You Grow.
Frequently asked questions
What age is this game for?
About 6 to 10. Level 1 needs adding small whole numbers; level 3 adds dollars and cents and making change from $20.
Does the game use real money or ask for payment?
No. All money in the game is pretend, and nothing can be bought.
Is it safe for kids?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no chat, no ads and no cookies. The game asks for no personal information, and stars are saved only in this browser.
Can we play in another language?
Yes. Use the language menu at the top of the page; the game is available in 12 languages.