Turns Out Debit Cards Are Better For Kids Than Cash

We've been contemplating how best to go about allowances for the kids.

We, of course, plan to make the kids (aged 9 & 13) work for the money by doing chores around the house but we find that their billfolds just end up being spilled out in the dining room drawer.

Plus...I hardly ever use cash.  So...maybe there's a better way? According to Tinybeans, here are the big reasons why you should think about throwing out your kid's piggy bank and start putting their allowance on a debit card instead.

1.  It teaches kids the ACTUAL money management skills they need.  Money today is mostly just numbers on a screen, not cash.  So it makes more sense to prepare your kids for the future by having them use money now the way they'll use it as adults.

 

2.  It helps teach kids to budget.  There are actually quite a few good debit cards for kids out there that help teach them budgeting and saving.  Plus when kids are in better control of their money, they naturally start making smarter spending decisions.

 

3.  It helps them make a stronger connection between work and money.  Most kids debit cards allow parents to reward kids for chores.  That helps kids make a connection between work and earning . . . and makes them appreciate the value of a dollar.

 

4.  It gets rid of the possibility of a kid spending thousands of your dollars in an online game.  When a kid has their own debit card tied to micropurchases in a game, suddenly they're less inclined to buy a million Smurf berries.