Raising Money-Confident Kids: What Spriggy’s $623M Economy Report Reveals About the Next Generation
Oct 29, 2025
By Molly Benjamin, Founder of Ladies Finance Club
When you think of “the economy,” kids probably aren’t the first group that springs to mind. Yet, according to Spriggy’s FY25 Economy Report, Australian children are becoming a powerful financial force, driving a staggering $623 million mini-economy.
Based on data from over 790,000 young Australians, the report paints a fascinating picture of how kids are earning, saving, spending, and giving back and in many cases, they’re outpacing the habits of adults.
As I say in my book Girls Just Wanna Have Funds research shows that ‘Children form most of their adult money behaviours by the age of seven. If we don’t start teaching them early, we’re leaving their financial future to chance.”
If you’re not familiar with Spriggy they are Australia’s number one Pocket Money app that helps kids learn about money and gain confidence through a prepaid card and app for both parents and kids.
Spriggy’s findings highlight exactly why early money education is so crucial. Let’s break it down.
Kids as Earners: Outpacing Adults and Closing the Gap
Spriggy kids earned $286.3 million in FY25, an 11% increase year-on-year. That’s three times faster than national wage growth, beating both inflation and adult wage rises.
And here’s the headline: the gender pay gap has reversed. Girls earned $1.03 for every $1.00 boys earned, while in the Australian workforce, women still earn just $0.88 for every $1 men earn (12% pay gap).
This is a big deal. In my book, I highlight how even pocket money can reflect gender biases - girls often do more unpaid chores or get less control over money. That early inequality can compound over a lifetime.
“What Spriggy’s data shows is that if you give kids equal opportunity from the start, girls don’t just catch up - they thrive. This gives us hope that the next generation of women won’t be burdened by the same structural gaps we see today.” – Molly Benjamin
Kids as Savers: From Labubu Plushies to Trips to Japan
Today’s kids are ambitious, trend-driven savers. According to the report:
- 67% of all travel-themed savings goals were for overseas trips, with Japan topping the list.
- Viral culture plays a huge role too: savings goals for Labubu plush toys surged 9,600% in a single year.
This mix of serious long-term goals (holidays, experiences) and fun, short-term trends is exactly what parents should encourage.
From my own framework, I often recommend the “Three Piggy Banks Rule”:
- Saving – for bigger goals like travel or special items.
- Spending – for everyday enjoyment, teaching the value of money in action.
- Sharing – to encourage generosity and community values.
“When kids have a system like the three piggy banks, it’s not just about the dollars. It’s about learning patience, choices, and the joy of giving. Spriggy’s data shows kids are already saving big, but parents can help by turning those goals into real learning moments.” – Molly Benjamin
Kids as Givers: A Generation That Gives Back
Generosity is another standout theme. Spriggy kids donated and fundraised $1,066,393 in FY25, a 28% increase from the previous year — enough to fund over 2.1 million meals via OzHarvest.
This tells us kids aren’t just consumers; they’re socially conscious contributors. And that’s a money lesson worth celebrating.
When I talk to parents, I always emphasise that money isn’t just about security or lifestyle – it’s also about meaning. Encouraging kids to give from a young age helps them see money as a tool for positive change. It also builds gratitude – when children recognise what they have, they’re more willing to share it.
And here in Australia, we have so much to be grateful for – from access to education and healthcare to the simple everyday comforts we often take for granted. Helping kids understand this perspective makes their generosity even more powerful, because they’re giving not from guilt, but from a genuine appreciation of what they have.
Cultural Shifts: Money Confidence Starts Early
The data confirms what research has long told us: children are forming money habits far earlier than most parents realise.
That’s why it’s critical not to leave financial education to chance.
Here are some practical takeaways from my book that complement Spriggy’s findings:
- Involve Kids in Everyday Money Conversations
Don’t just talk about money when there’s stress or conflict. Use grocery shopping or household bills as teachable moments. Instead of saying, “That’s too expensive,” try: “We’re choosing not to buy this because we’re saving for our holiday.”
This frames money as empowering rather than limiting. - Show How Money Works
Explain where income comes from. Involve kids in big decisions – like buying a car – so they see trade-offs and priorities in action. - Connect Chores and Pocket Money with Purpose
Some chores should be household tasks - part of contributing to family life. These everyday jobs teach kids the value of supporting their family and being part of a community. Other chores can be linked to pocket money. Paid tasks help children understand the value of work, goal-setting, and consistency, giving them a taste of real-world earning habits.
The key is balance: let household chores build community, and use paid tasks to teach financial responsibility.
- The Power of a Bank Account (or Spriggy Account)
Opening a bank account – or a Spriggy account – is a powerful rite of passage. Walk kids through how savings grow, how banks and digital accounts work, and set realistic savings goals together. This makes money tangible and gives them real-world practice in managing it. - Address Gender Bias at Home
Spriggy’s report indicates that when given equal footing, girls earn just as much (if not more). Parents can model equality by being mindful not to give daughters less control over money or tie them more heavily to unpaid labour.
Practical Activities by Age
Money education doesn’t have to be heavy or boring. It can (and should) be fun - Ladies Finance Club tips!
Ages 3–6
- Play “shop,” let them pay at checkout, or show them how ATM money works.
- Sort coins into jars or piggy banks labelled “Spend, Save, Give.”
- Play pretend games where they’re the shopkeeper and you’re the customer.
- Read storybooks about money, sharing, and choices.
Ages 7–9
- Give them a small weekly allowance and let them practice choosing how to spend or save it. You will be amazed at how quickly kids make better choices once the money is theirs and the earning process is tangible.
- Compare prices of favourite snacks at the supermarket.
- Play simple board games that involve money (like Monopoly Junior).
- Set a short-term savings goal for a toy and track progress together.
Ages 10–13
- Brainstorm business ideas, compare household prices, or track stock prices of brands they know.
- Challenge them to find the best deal on an item online vs in-store.
- Let them help plan a family outing on a set budget.
- Introduce them to budgeting apps or let them start managing their money in the Spriggy child app - there is an app for parents and one designed just for the kids.
Ages 13–16
- Encourage part-time jobs, explain taxes, talk about interest rates, and even spark small business ventures.
- Teach them about “needs vs wants” with real-life examples like clothing vs tech gadgets.
- Walk them through their first bank or Spriggy account statement.
- Get them to research big financial choices (like comparing phone plans).
Ages 16–18
- Talk about superannuation when they get their first job.
- Show them payslips and how tax and Medicare are deducted.
- Teach them about credit cards vs debit cards and how interest works.
- Encourage them to set a bigger savings goal (like travel, a laptop, or even a car).
Investing for Kids: Building Long-Term Habits
Saving and giving are powerful, but we can also go one step further: investing. Parents can set up small investment accounts for children through a number of Aussie platforms.
The key isn’t just the money - it’s the lesson. Imagine showing your child how their $50 grows over a year. That’s a lightbulb moment that can shape their entire financial future.
Why This Matters
The ultimate goal isn’t to raise kids who are just “good with money.” It’s to raise financially capable adults who understand how to balance earning, saving, spending, and giving.
“Money confidence doesn’t start with a salary. It starts with that first coin in a piggy bank, that first decision at the shops, or that first savings goal for something big. What Spriggy has captured in this report is proof that kids are ready and able to step into that confidence.” – Molly Benjamin
Spriggy’s data shows us a generation of children who are financially aware, ambitious, and generous. But it also reminds us that parents play a huge role in shaping those outcomes.
When we talk openly about money, involve kids in decision-making, and set up simple systems like the three piggy banks, we’re doing more than teaching maths. We’re raising kids who can thrive in a complex financial world.
And that’s good not just for families, but for the economy as a whole.
Spriggy’s FY25 Economy Report proves it: Aussie kids are not only part of the economy - they’re shaping it. From earning at record rates, to saving for global adventures, to giving back with generosity, they’re building habits that can last a lifetime.
But data is only part of the story. The real work happens at home, in the everyday conversations, choices, and examples parents set.
So next time your child asks about money, lean into it. Use it as a chance to empower them, not brush it off. Because as I share in my book: “If we want the next generation to do better than us, we need to start talking about money early, often, and positively.”
