Shopping Game

Shopping Game is a supermarket trip that doubles as a money-math workout. You get a shopping list and a budget, push your cart through five aisles, pick the right brand and pack size for every item, and check out before the store closes. Play this shopping game free in your browser on a laptop, Chromebook, tablet or phone, with no download or sign-up.

How to play

Every trip starts at the register end of the store with an empty cart, a list and a budget in US dollars.

• Find the aisle. The store has Produce, Bakery, Dairy, Frozen and Snacks aisles. Tap an aisle (or press 1 to 5) and your cart rolls there. Tapping an item on your list sends the cart straight to the right aisle.
• Pick a product. Each item comes in three invented brands, each with its own pack size and price. Tap a product to drop one into your cart. Your list shows how much you have against how much you need, such as 6/12 eggs, and turns green when you have enough.
• Mix and match. You can combine packs. If the list says 24 oz of cheese, two 8 oz packs and one 16 oz pack, or a single 32 oz block, all count.
• Put things back. Tap any item in your cart to return one to the shelf.
• Check out. Press Check out (or C). At the register the receipt scans line by line with a running total, then shows your total, your budget and your change. You pass if you have everything on the list and you are at or under budget. If not, the receipt says why and you can go back into the store.

Each level has a time limit. If the clock hits zero before you pay, the store closes and you try again.

Levels, deals and stars

There are 12 levels, and each one unlocks the next. Lists grow from three items to eight, and the budget gets tighter as you go. From level 4, some products carry a Buy 2 get 1 free tag, so every third one of that product is free. From level 6, the list comes with coupons for a set amount off one specific product, taken off once at checkout. Levels 1 to 6 show a price-per-unit tag on every product. From level 7 those tags disappear and you work out the unit price yourself, and from level 9 the cart total in the top bar is hidden too, so you keep a running total in your head.

You earn one star for passing, a second star for paying the lowest possible price for every item on the list with nothing extra in the cart, and a third for checking out within the par time. Your score adds points for best prices, money left over and time left. Stars, best scores and unlocked levels are saved in your browser.

The Daily quick trip is a six-item run with deals and a coupon, built from the date, so everyone playing on the same day gets the same list and prices. Your best daily score is saved for that day.

Tips for spending less

• Bigger is not always cheaper. Divide the price by the size to get the unit price. Sometimes the mid-size pack beats the giant one.
• Match the pack to the list. If you need 6 muffins, a 6-pack may cost less than a 4-pack plus a 2-pack, even if the unit prices look close.
• Do the deal math. With Buy 2 get 1 free, three small packs cost the price of two. That can turn the most expensive-looking option into the cheapest.
• Use your coupons. A coupon can make a pricier brand the better buy.
• Count your change. On the later levels, add each price as you go so you know you are under budget before you reach the register.

FAQ

Is Shopping Game free to play?

Yes. It is completely free, with no account and no install.

Is it good for kids learning about money?

It is designed around money math. Kids practise adding prices, comparing unit prices, working out deals and coupons, and figuring out change from the receipt. Early levels show unit prices and a running total, and later levels take those helpers away.

Can every level be finished under budget?

Yes. Every list is built so that the best combination of products fits inside the budget, with some room to spare on the early levels and very little on the last ones.

Does it work on a phone or Chromebook?

Yes. Tap aisles and products on a touch screen, or use a mouse. On a keyboard, keys 1 to 5 pick an aisle, C checks out, and P or Esc pauses the clock.

Want more money practice? Try Counting Money, or run your own business in Lemonade Stand.