Who knew the future of finance would come in mini form? Young Aussie entrepreneurs are quietly taking over everything from SMEs to saving – and frankly, they’re doing it better than most adults. They’re nailing chores, side hustles, budgeting like a (much older) boss, all while running a $623 million economy of their own. The newly released Spriggy Economy Report 2025 from Spriggy, Australia’s leading financial education platform for kids and families, shows these pint-sized earners collectively made $286.3 million this year – an 11% jump from last year and more than three times the rate of national wage growth. While adults wrestle with bills and the cost-of-living crunch, the nation’s youngest money-makers are quietly thriving.
And the real plot twist is that girls are out-earning boys – $1.03 to the dollar – flipping the script on Australia’s adult gender pay gap, where women still earn just $0.88. It’s a complete reversal of what we see in the workforce and raises a big question for parents: if girls start out ahead, why do they fall behind later, and how can we help them keep that confidence as they grow?
Spriggy’s report, based on insights from more than 790,000 young Australians, shows a generation that’s not only financially savvy but generous too. Together, kids donated and fundraised over $1.06 million in the past year – up 28% year-on-year. Their savings goals range from family holidays (Japan was the top destination) to viral collectibles like Labubu plush toys, which spiked an astonishing 9,600 per cent as a savings target. Forget smashed avo – today’s kids are saving for plushies and purpose.
Spriggy Head of Finance, Jasmin Dayes, says the results show just how engaged kids have become with money. “These results show kids are far more engaged with money than many people realise. They’re not only working hard and saving ambitiously, from family holidays to viral trends, but also showing wonderful generosity. This is a generation that is both financially aware and socially conscious, which is something worth celebrating.”
So what’s behind the shift – and how do we make sure girls keep their early financial edge? According to Ladies Finance Club founder and Spriggy spokesperson Molly Benjamin, it’s all about building confidence early and keeping the conversation going as kids grow up. “When children see the tangible results of their effort – whether it’s earning from chores, saving for a big goal, or donating to causes – it builds lifelong confidence and independence,” she says. “The fact that girls are out-earning boys is especially encouraging, and shows the next generation is writing their own story around money.”
But as Molly points out, this confidence can fade fast once kids hit their teens. Studies show girls’ financial confidence often dips during adolescence, just as boys’ starts to soar. “Parents play such an important role here,” she says. “Teaching kids about budgeting and saving isn’t just about numbers – it’s about independence, confidence, and helping them believe they can take control of their financial future.”
Her favourite teaching trick is the “three piggy banks” method – one for spending, one for saving, and one for giving. “It’s simple, but powerful,” Molly explains. “It helps kids develop patience, make choices, and experience generosity. They learn that money isn’t just something to spend – it’s something to manage, plan, and use for good.”
And with cost-of-living pressures at an all-time high, these lessons have never been more important. Money stress doesn’t just affect adults – kids absorb it too. But Spriggy’s findings show that children are rising to the challenge, using digital pocket money tools to budget, save, and give with surprising maturity. They’re learning early on that money confidence is the real superpower – and one that can last a lifetime.
The takeaway? Australia’s kids aren’t just earning pocket money – they’re reshaping how we think about money itself. And if parents can nurture that spark of confidence, especially for girls, we might just see the first generation to close the pay gap for good.
Because if 12-year-old girls can out-earn the boys on pocket money, imagine what they’ll do when they run the world, as actual adults?
