how much money do you need to be rich? (kids answer)

October 1, 2009

in kids,money

Pink Piggy
Creative Commons License photo credit: rosscrawford1

How much money do you need to be “rich?” Everyone has a number. For many it’s a $1,000,000. For others it’s $100,000 in the bank. Some adults will say being rich isn’t just about money, and while I agree I decided to limit my questions to solely money.

This is a totally unscientific poll of various aged children. The idea came about when I was talking to my girls last night (7 and 5) and they brought up being rich.

I asked them 2 questions, and was holding in my laughter as they answered.

The questions are:

  1. How much money do you need to be considered “rich?”
  2. How can you get “rich?”

The comments go from youngest to oldest:

Milligan, Adam Baker’s daughter (18 months): <blank stare>

Andrew‘s son (2): “BASEBALL!”

I think this is my favorite answer.

Erin (3):

  1. “A lot”
  2. “Work”

Love the simplicity of Erin’s answers.

Aidan (3 1/2):

  1. “$100!”
  2. “I need gold to be rich!”

He insists he needs gold coins.

NCN’s kiddo (5):

  1. “63 thousand dollars”
  2. “Save my money in the bank mema gave me”

Great answers! Wonder where the $63,000 number came from?

Audrey (5 1/2):

  1. “What did Emma say?” (her sister who she defers too) “$1,000, but you’d still be rich if you had $999.”
  2. “Save all your money, and then you can buy lots of stuff like toys and candy!”

This is my girl. If her sister hadn’t been with her I might’ve gotten a more self-directed answer, instead she just mimicked her sister.

Rebekah (6 1/2)

  1. “$10,800″
  2. “Helping others and doing jobs for other people”

Love Rebekah’s idea of helping others. Again with the odd number, wonder what made her think $10,800 instead of $10K or $11K.

J.P. (age 7)

  1. $1,000,000,000
  2. By being a bank robber or by doing a whole bunch of chores

This kid has moxy, I like it! This is the highest number of any respondent, I like that he’s shooting for the stars. Maybe the next Bill Gates?

Emma (7 1/2):

  1. “$1,000, but $100 is still pretty good”
  2. “Work, do chores and stuff like that.”

My girl, she doesn’t need much. :)

Sister duo Esther (6) and Talia (9)

  1. E: “$1,500″
  2. T: “Working or the lottery.”

Love these sisters’ answers. Good luck with the lottery!

Nathan (11):

  1. $1,000,000.
  2. By saving for a very long time, putting your money in the bank to earn interest, and spending your money on things that will make more money.

Again my kiddo (I know I have too many) I think he’s got the most realistic answer.

Aly (11)

  1. “Couple million dollars.”
  2. “I don’t know, but can you start doing it, Mom?”

Ha! Glad I’m not a mom of a tween yet! Love that she aks mom to do it for her, watch out Brandie!

ADD Housewife‘s kiddo (12):

  1. “$5,000,000″
  2. “Own google”

Love owning google as the answer to being rich. If only we could all own google. :)

Did you ask your kids? If so, leave the responses below. I find this hilarious!

Kelly

© 2009 – 2011, Whalen Media LLC. All rights reserved. To repost or publish, please email Kelly.

About Kelly


Kelly Whalen is the founder of The Centsible Life, a blog where motherhood and money meet. Her goal is to help readers live well on less. Kelly is a mom to 4, and loves that she can stay at home with her kids, and still pursue her passions for writing, personal finance, and social media. You can often find her on twitter and Facebook talking money and motherhood.

  • Mama Bird

    I asked my oldest, who is four, how much money he would need to be rich.
    He asked, "What is 'rich;?"
    Good question. "Uh, it means you have a lot of money". Answer for purposes of this question.
    "Twenty!", he enthusiastically replied.
    "Twenty dollars?", I ask. "Yeah".
    And how would he get this twenty dollars, I asked him. "I don't know, you just get it".

    Ah, the simplicity of being four.

  • http://www.flyawayfamily.com/ Mama Bird

    I asked my oldest, who is four, how much money he would need to be rich.
    He asked, "What is 'rich;?"
    Good question. "Uh, it means you have a lot of money". Answer for purposes of this question.
    "Twenty!", he enthusiastically replied.
    "Twenty dollars?", I ask. "Yeah".
    And how would he get this twenty dollars, I asked him. "I don't know, you just get it".

    Ah, the simplicity of being four.

  • http://www.thepennywisefamily.com jessc098

    So cute! My little girl, age 4 is very good with money. Her "chore" around the house is to match the socks from each load of wash. for this, she gets a quarter. We adopted her a year ago, and I decided since she had a couple of checks she needed a bank account, so we went to the bank and she dumped her pink purse out and had stashed away $160!! Holy cow!

    She informs me that she needs forty dollars more to be rich (every day). I don't know if she knows that that would make it an even $200.

  • http://www.thepennywisefamily.com/ jessc098

    So cute! My little girl, age 4 is very good with money. Her "chore" around the house is to match the socks from each load of wash. for this, she gets a quarter. We adopted her a year ago, and I decided since she had a couple of checks she needed a bank account, so we went to the bank and she dumped her pink purse out and had stashed away $160!! Holy cow!

    She informs me that she needs forty dollars more to be rich (every day). I don't know if she knows that that would make it an even $200.

  • http://www.stumbleforward.com Chris Holdheid

    LOL, That's funny. Kids always say the funnest stuff. I should ask my kids this when they get older.

  • http://www.stumbleforward.com/ Chris Holdheid

    LOL, That's funny. Kids always say the funnest stuff. I should ask my kids this when they get older.

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