---
title: "Buying things"
description: "How buying and selling works: prices, paying for items, receiving change; the basic transaction process in shops and markets"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/buying-things-mt_RNRymbz5SO
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/buying-things-mt_RNRymbz5SO.md
retrieved: 2026-11-12
---

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# Buying things

How buying and selling works: prices, paying for items, receiving change; the basic transaction process in shops and markets

Subject: Life Skills · Area: Money & Finance · Ages 5 to 7
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/buying-things-mt_RNRymbz5SO

## Ready when they can

- Explain a shop purchase: choose an item, check its price, pay, take the item, and collect change if it is owed
- Read a price label and say whether they have enough money to buy the item
- Act out a simple buying scenario using real or play coins

## Lesson: How buying works

In a shop, choose an item and check its price. You are the customer. Give money to the seller. The seller gives you the item, and you can take it home. If you pay more than the price, collect your change. If you pay the exact price, no change is needed.

*(drawing: Collect change too, if you paid more than the price.)*

We use US money, as in the coins lesson. A price label tells you how much to pay. Compare your money with the price. You have enough if your money equals the price or is more. If you have less, it is not enough. With 20 cents for a 60-cent item, you need more money.

**Example.** $1 is 100 cents. Two $1 bills make $2, or 200 cents. Change is the payment minus the price. You can find it by counting up. Mia pays 100 cents for a 70-cent toy. Count 80, 90, 100: three jumps of 10 cents give 30 cents change. With a $2 payment, count to 100 cents first, then add another 100 cents.

**Recap.** Choose an item, check the price, pay and take the item. Collect change if you paid more than the price.

*Lesson, questions and flashcards written for this dataset.*

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Coins & Notes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/coins-and-notes-mt_FIkqA0qhnj)

## Opens up

- [Making Change](https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/making-change-mt_aWOK1npO5s)
- [Fair Trade & Ethics](https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/fair-trade-and-ethics-mt_HPf-dVtA3p)
- [Ways to Pay](https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/ways-to-pay-mt_K8_RYIvrTV)
- [Advertising & Spending](https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/advertising-and-spending-mt_My0OL6fhGL)
- [Budgeting Pocket Money](https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/budgeting-pocket-money-mt_Qzbh-_v0Gq)
- [How the economy works](https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/how-the-economy-works-mt_udgPy5oAvR)