Fish Bank Interactive Money Box Helps Your Kids Save
Let’s face it – the economy if pretty shithouse at the moment. The stock market is falling apart, banks are dropping interest rates – it kind of makes you long for the days when all you had was a ceramic pig with a slot in its back that you could drop your coins into.
Well, Australian company Moose Enterprise has gone one step better by creating the Fish Bank, a digital piggy bank that lets your kids (or you) interact with a digital fish named Gil, who counts your money as you deposit it and lets you set savings goals. It’s also part Tamagotchi, as you need to feed and clean Gil’s tank as well.
With every coin deposited, new animations and features are unlocked. And while they’re hardly exciting for an adult, they’re pretty fun for the kiddies – so much so that the product won the 2008 Australian Development Award from the Australian Toy Association.
The Fish Bank hits shelves in November (just in time for Xmas, of course) for $60. Sure, it might not earn you (or your kid) a heap of interest on your investment, but at least its not going to go bankrupt with the current credit crunch…
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Comments
Whats wrong with the paper mache pig, my daughter and I made together?
At least we saved $60.
THE KIDS WANTS ONE FOR XMAS DO YOU THINK THERE IS ONE FOR EURO COINS?
What a load of rubbish. Didnt recognise half the coins put in and so total was always incorrect. Took item back to shop for a refund. Dont waste your money on this item. Very disappointing.
Having not seen this new “gadget” I can’t comment. If you really want your child to learn about setting targets and saving. Just a simple piggy bank like adz mentioned will be perfect. To help with counting get your child to complete a little book on how much they placed in the piggy bank. Children under 5 simply just have them count the number of coins no matter what value, least the little one will know they have 33 coins in their piggy.
Though hats of for the idea of this product, its a starting point. But nothing beats a clear jar with a line on the bottle.
Cheers james of littlenomads.com.au
alison did u put in australian currency because isnt it like australian?
Can buy them at target for $49.95, but all those people who can’t be bother to check out the price of this item are buying them on e-bay for between $60 and $80 dollars. The idea of getting kids to count there own money is so that they know how to add and subtract when they get older. Not that most young people these days can anyway.
can u put notes in here or not oh and how do u get the money out?
(blode moment)
iam the kid on the add for fishbank no joke
I live in England and want one ? where can we buy them ? if its an Australian developement will it be in sterling? My 5 year old wants one from santa ? HELPPPPPPP please…..
I found one…..it is labelled a fish BANK not fish Tank…thats why a search engine didn’t find it !!!
anyone know where you can still find one of these this close to christmas????
how can i still purchase the fish tank money box thanks
Im from Perth Western Australia, and have been looking for these since christmas and havent been able to find them. Toyworld, Toys r us dont have them and neither Target Kmart Big W. Where oh Where
Toys R us around Australia sell them for $69.99
but on their new Catalog start from 22 April the price will reduced to $59.99
Fishbank can be purchased at Big W Toy Sale starting midnight July 2nd 2009 for $49.64
We live in California and my son really wants a fish bank for Christmas. Does anyone know where I can get one? Also, will it register US coins?