How to create a goal that fits a school trip

A savings goal in KiddyCash is a named target that helps your child save toward something specific — like a school trip to Nairobi National Park, a science camp fee, or a class excursion. Instead of money sitting in a wallet with no purpose, a goal gives it direction.

This guide walks you through setting up a goal designed around a real, planned expense — step by step.

Before you start

Make sure you know:

  • The exact amount needed. Check the school’s payment letter or notice. For example, KES 3,500 for transport and entry fees.
  • The deadline. When does the money need to be ready? Most school trips give two to four weeks’ notice.
  • Your child’s current wallet balance. This tells you how much still needs to be saved.

If you want to understand how savings goals fit into your bigger picture as a family, the article Why the family budget is your most powerful financial teaching tool is a good place to start.

Step-by-step: Creating the goal

Step 1 — Open the goal creation screen

Go directly to https://kiddy.cash/family/kiddy/account/goal/create in your browser or tap Goals in your child’s wallet inside the KiddyCash app, then tap Create new goal.

Step 2 — Name the goal

Type a clear, specific name. Avoid vague names like “savings.” Use something like Nairobi Trip – Grade 5 or School Excursion Fee – March. Your child can see this name in their wallet, which keeps them motivated.

Step 3 — Enter the target amount

Type the full amount required. If the school is asking for KES 3,500, enter exactly that. Do not round down — the goal should reflect the real cost so your child learns accurate financial planning.

Step 4 — Set the deadline

Enter the date by which the money must be ready. Set this one or two days before the school’s actual deadline. This gives you time to transfer funds through M-Pesa or any linked payment method without rushing.

Step 5 — Choose the child this goal belongs to

If you manage more than one child in KiddyCash, select the correct child from the dropdown. Each child has their own wallet and goals — they are kept separate.

Step 6 — Confirm and save

Review the goal details: name, target amount, and deadline. Tap Save goal (or Create). The goal will now appear in your child’s wallet.

Once the goal is live, you can learn how to track progress in How to view a child’s savings goal.

After creating the goal

  • Talk to your child about it. Show them the goal in the app. Explain what the number means and when it needs to be reached.
  • Connect it to allowances. If your child receives a weekly allowance through KiddyCash, encourage them to allocate part of it toward the goal each week.
  • Check in regularly. KiddyCash shows progress visually so your child can see how close they are.

If you have not yet created a savings goal for a child before, the guide How to create a savings goal for a child covers the full feature in detail.

For families who want to make saving a habit and not a one-off exercise, How to run a simple family budget kids can see and learn from offers a practical framework you can start this week.