When Fun Costs Too Much...Teaching A Lesson About Budgeting

Because Everything Costs Money… Except the Park

This summer, it feels like the only free thing left is the park.
Movies, arcades, museums, apps, and snacks.

Fun often comes with a price tag.

And when your kid asks to go somewhere or buy something (for the fifth time today), sometimes all you can say is “not today.”

It’s frustrating. It’s disappointing. And if you’re feeling stretched, you’re not alone; we’re feeling it too.

At Future Fortunes Academy, we get it. We’re parents navigating the same pressures: wanting to give our kids great experiences without breaking the budget.

But here’s the good news:
These moments, as hard as they can be, are opportunities.

They’re a chance to bring kids into the conversation about money and help them understand the trade-offs that come with choices. Not to guilt them. Not to stress them out. But to teach them.

Start Here: Plan the Week Together

Set a budget for the week that is reasonable for the size of your family and location. Maybe it’s $40, maybe it’s $150. Tell your kids:

“This is what we are going to use for our fun this week, let’s figure out what to do together.”

Then explore the options with them:

Outing #1: Movie Day

Tickets are $16 each, should we go on Tuesday when it’s half-price?
Popcorn and drinks? Fun… but that’s another $15 gone.
If we skip the snacks, we’ll have more for later in the week.

Outing #2: Park Picnic Day

The park is free, thank goodness!
But do we grab lunch on the way or pack sandwiches?
Packing lunch saves us $35, enough to cover mini golf later.

Outing #3: Mini Golf

Basic entry is $12.
Want to do the arcade or grab ice cream after?
That depends on what we spent earlier. Did we stick to the budget? Then we might have room!

Show the Big Picture: Choices, Trade-Offs, and Real-Life Thinking

Suddenly, it’s not about saying “no” it’s about your kid seeing:
If we spend less here, we can do more there. Every choice affects the next one. This is real-world financial thinking, wrapped in something they care about.

It teaches them to plan ahead, make trade-offs, and think in terms of priorities and outcomes.

What We Believe at Future Fortunes Academy

At Future Fortunes Academy, this is what we’re all about: helping kids build real-life money habits one week (and one fun decision) at a time.