Nestlums and John Lewis cater to the cashless society with new pocket money toy for Generation Alpha

Hailed by toy experts as a Top 12 presents to get this Christmas, Nestlums is the pocket money pet that parents with kids 4-8 years old are rushing to John Lewis to snap up in time for putting under the Christmas tree. The days of emptying a piggy bank and feeling the joy of physically counting their money are rapidly fading away. While older kids, around 9-12 years old, might start using a bank card and digital app, younger children need something simpler. That’s where the Nestlums invention came in—a straightforward pocket money tracker that lets kids see, at the press of a button, exactly how much they’re owed by their parents.

For such young children 4+, there is no real money or connected app. Parents instead use a secret-mode directly on the toy to update the balance and help kids easily understand the impact of their spending. It’s a simple, fun and educational way to teach kids the value of money from a very early age.

Research from the Money Advice Service highlights that some of our core habits and attitudes toward money are shaped by the age of 7, making it harder to change these behaviours later in life. That’s why the Nestlums team thoughtfully designed the toy to nurture positive financial habits early on, all while ensuring the experience remains fun and engaging for children.

Alan Wright, Buying Manager, Toys & Books at John Lewis & Partners said, “When we first saw Nestlums, it jumped out as a unique product that was helping parents teach their children the value of money in our increasingly cashless society. We were delighted to launch this exclusively with John Lewis and the toys are proving very popular with our customers.”

Matt Hyde, Product Owner at Nestlums said,“For young children, parents play a crucial role in teaching them about money—whether it’s collecting their weekly pocket money, shopping together, or buying that next digital item for their Roblox character. These everyday moments, side-by-side with parents, are when kids begin to understand the value of money. With Nestlums, you can make these conversations even more impactful. No real money is involved. No connected app is required. The toy is simply designed as a tracker to help kids, and parents, remember the pocket money they have promised!”

More information available at nestlums.com.