Cash or Debit card

Renauda

Cash in pocket, mom and dad keep custody of the debit card.

Doctor Phibes

The thing I would like about a debit card is it encourages saving.

You clearly haven't met my family.

I'd go cash. I think having a concrete way of seeing the money is helpful in understanding its value. It's not like he won't have a card later.

jon-nyc

We started with cash but almost always he would end up wanting something online that we’d buy and he’d reimburse us.

When he turned 13 he was eligible for a Chase high school checking account so now he uses a debit card.

If you can find a debit card solution for a seven year old I’d go for it.

My son just turned 15 so this wasn’t that long ago.

Jolly

@xenon said in Cash or Debit card:

Our oldest seems like he's ready to start managing an allowance. Would you all go cash or visa debit card (lots of kid oriented product these days).

He's 7 and good with math and is able to log into a kids account on a PC and see his balance. So I don't think using and understanding a bank account will be an issue.

But - is there something foundational about learning with cash?

I'd lean cash, but a lot of the doodads kids buy these days aren't even available without a card.

Cash or card. But make him work for it. Doesn't have to be digging ditches, just a regular chore or two he is responsible for.

jon-nyc

By the way I think an allowance is a good thing. As Jeffrey, a former poster here put it, without an allowance their only means of acquiring things is by begging mom and dad.

We started at about age 6 or 7. The rule was a dollar a week per year of age. When he got to high school we made it a straight 20 a week. High school kids here can leave school for lunch, so a lot of that goes to pizza slices.

89th

With my oldest just turning 6, the idea of all of this gives me an upset stomach. Growing too quickly.

Anyway, I'd start with cash. Need to understand the value of money and the physical exchange is helpful.

Axtremus

@Mik said in Cash or Debit card:

Why not both?

Yes, do both.

LuFins Dad

Cash

LuFins Dad

You want him to physically see the money leave. If he wants to buy something that is in an online game or some such, have him pay you from his cash to put it on your card. Have him physically pay it.

89th

We have done that with our kids so far. They get $5 or a few bucks, my daughter bought a yard stick from home depot as her first purchase. What's funny... I've used that sucker so many times (e.g., to get something out from underneath the fridge).

Doctor Phibes

Get them working early. They'll thank you for it later

taiwan_girl

@LuFins-Dad said in Cash or Debit card:

You want him to physically see the money leave. If he wants to buy something that is in an online game or some such, have him pay you from his cash to put it on your card. Have him physically pay it.

Agree with this. Kind of like the "envelope" method of budgeting.

The New Coffee Room

Cash or Debit card