Money is the central motif in Ramona and Her Father. It is used to represent The Support of the Family Unit and its importance in hard times; it also emphasizes how Facing Adult Issues as a Child affects Ramona and the rest of the family. The story opens with Ramona writing her Christmas list in September, already having high expectations for the day. She also hopes that, because it’s her father’s payday, the family can go to Whopperburger for supper. All of these hopes are instantly scratched off Ramona’s list when her father comes home and announces he lost his job. The family is already living paycheck to paycheck, and the change is expected to put a significant strain on the family. Mrs. Quimby is able to find full-time work to make up for some of the loss, but being at home affects Mr. Quimby’s mood, and Mrs. Quimby becomes exhausted from trying to manage both her job and the household.

Ramona sees the issues in her family and how they are making her parents and sister anxious and downtrodden. She considers being in commercials to earn money but wisely decides it isn’t for her when her father tells her, “Money is handy, but it isn’t everything” (46).