Spending Money Word Problems Practice Test Worksheets
Spending money questions ask you to turn a weekly activity list into a total cost. The key is spotting whether each item happens every weekday, on weekends, once a week, or on one named day.
For students who can add prices, but lose marks when weekday costs, weekend costs, and one-off activities appear together.
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What Do Spending Money Questions Look Like?
Spending money questions give you a list of weekly activities with prices and frequencies, such as daily, weekday, weekend, or named-day costs. You are asked to calculate the total amount spent over the entire week by interpreting each schedule correctly. Here is a worked example.
Named-Day Costs
Question: This week John spends:
- $1.50 on music lessons, on Friday only.
- $2 on football practice, on Thursday only.
- $2 on Karate, on Sunday only.
- $2 on guitar lessons, once a week.
- $2 on lunch, once a week.
What is the total cost of John's activities this week?
Worked Method
Step 1: Each cost happens once, so add them directly.
$1.50 + $2 + $2 + $2 + $2 = $9.50
Tip: "On Friday only", "on Thursday only", and "once a week" all mean add the amount once.
Rules to Help You Solve Spending Money Questions
These questions ask for spending over one week. Using the approach from the example above, weekdays are Monday to Friday (5 days), weekends are Saturday and Sunday (2 days), and one-off or named-day costs are counted once.
📅 Rule 1: Every weekday means 5 times
Monday to Friday gives five payments. Multiply the daily cost by 5.
Example: $1 every weekday on guitar lessons = $1 x 5 = $5
🏖️ Rule 2: Per Day on Weekends Means Twice per Week
A cost per day on weekends is paid on both Saturday and Sunday, so multiply it by 2. A cost for the whole weekend, or for Saturday or Sunday only, is counted once.
Example: $2 per day on weekends = $2 x 2 = $4
🧾 Rule 3: Once a week or one day means add once
If an activity happens once a week or on a named day, include that cost one time only.
Example: $2.50 on Monday only adds $2.50, not $12.50.
➕ Rule 4: Add each activity subtotal
Work out each line separately, then add the subtotals. This avoids missing a repeated cost.
Example: $3 + $1.50 + $5 + $2.50 + $4 = $16
Two More Worked Examples
Here are two additional problems showing how to calculate weekly totals by combining weekday multipliers, weekend costs, and one-off activities.
Weekday and Weekend Costs
Question: This week Sean spends:
- $1.50 on Karate, on Wednesday only.
- $1.50 every weekday on music lessons.
- $2.50 per day for guitar lessons on weekends.
- $1 every weekday on travelling.
- $0.50 per day for Pokemon cards on weekends.
What is the total cost of Sean's activities this week?
Worked Method
Step 1: Wednesday only: $1.50.
Step 2: Music lessons every weekday: $1.50 x 5 = $7.50.
Step 3: Guitar lessons on weekends: $2.50 x 2 = $5.00.
Step 4: Travelling every weekday: $1 x 5 = $5.00.
Step 5: Pokemon cards on weekends: $0.50 x 2 = $1.00.
Step 6: Add the subtotals: $1.50 + $7.50 + $5.00 + $5.00 + $1.00 = $20.
Tip: For one week, multiply an every-weekday cost by 5 and a cost per day on weekends by 2. Count a named-day cost once, even if that day is a weekday or a weekend day.
Combining Daily and One-Off Costs
Question: This week Fred spends:
- $1.50 per day for basketball on weekends.
- $1.50 on lunch, on Wednesday only.
- $1 every weekday on guitar lessons.
- $2.50 on football practice, on Monday only.
- $2 per day for Pokemon cards on weekends.
What is the total cost of Fred's activities this week?
Worked Method
Step 1: Basketball on weekends: $1.50 x 2 = $3.00.
Step 2: Lunch on Wednesday only: $1.50.
Step 3: Guitar lessons every weekday: $1 x 5 = $5.00.
Step 4: Football practice on Monday only: $2.50.
Step 5: Pokemon cards on weekends: $2 x 2 = $4.00.
Step 6: Total: $3.00 + $1.50 + $5.00 + $2.50 + $4.00 = $16.
Tip: Compare the frequency words: guitar lessons cost $1 on each of five weekdays, but Wednesday’s lunch costs $1.50 just once. Count each activity according to its own schedule.
