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7-10digital-money-basics

Ask Before Tapping Buy

Build the habit of asking a parent or guardian before making any purchase on a shared or family device.

In this lesson

Ask Before Tapping Buy is part of Money on Screens. This preview shows how digital-money-basics connects to everyday family decisions such as earning, saving, spending choices, goals, approvals, or parent-guided money conversations inside Progress Penguin.

Think about this money choice

Emeka is using his mum's phone and sees a game with items to buy. He wants to tap the buy button.

How it works

On a device that belongs to or is shared with a parent, any purchase — even a small one — should be approved first. This applies to in-app purchases, games, app downloads, and anything that costs money. Asking first protects both the child and the family account.

Try a real-life example

Real-life money moment: Emeka is using his mum's phone to play a game. He sees an option to buy extra coins for 800 in local currency. He taps it quickly, thinking it is free. 800 in local currency leaves his mum's account. She is unhappy — not because of the amount, but because he did not ask. — The habit of asking first is more important than the amount.

Activity preview

Try one real money action

Open Tasks and submit proof for one task, or open Requests and make a deposit request. Parent approval can happen later.

Quiz preview

Asking Before Tapping Buy is important because:

Tapping buy without asking always triggers a fraud alert
Parents must approve every digital purchase by law for minors
Digital purchases spend real money instantly and are hard to reverse
Asking first gives you extra time to find a cheaper alternative

You see an in-app purchase for 2000 in local currency. Before tapping buy, you should:

Check you have enough balance and confirm you genuinely want it
Tap buy now and dispute the charge later if you change your mind
Tap it immediately since in-app purchases are often temporary
Ask a friend if they think it is worth 2000 in local currency before deciding