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Original poster

Taking money on trip to NY

35 replies

PhoebeFriends · 18/08/2018 09:44

My 15 year old DD is going to New York in October. School have advised to take limited cash and recommend a pre paid card.
It seems the post office travel card is for 18years plus. Would a young persons bank account with debit card be a better option?
She has a savings account but no instant access account as yet so I am thinking this would be better long term but I am not great with finances and have never be n to NY myself so advice is much appreciated.

OP posts:
scotchpie · 18/08/2018 10:26

I got a FairFX usd card for DD when she went. Initially you order it in your name and activate it, then order an additional card in child's name (over 13) and activate and transfer the money over.

You can monitor what is spent and add if needed. I gave DD both cards in case she lost one (you are able to transfer monies between cards)

EduCated · 18/08/2018 10:22

Honestly, I’d probably just go with the PO card but in your name. I know it’s not going by the rules, but I think it weighs up as the best option.

Original poster
PhoebeFriends · 18/08/2018 10:20

Yes, that’s my concern but because of her age it seems the alternative is cash with the risk of her loosing it all!
We are going to Barclays on Monday to open an account and I will ask if they have any suggestions and also get her to be more proactive in finding out how her friends will manage.

OP posts:
DolorestheNewt · 18/08/2018 10:18

Actually, overseas charges are a good point - they racked up a bit, though I don't know what Barclays charges would be, I'm First Direct. I'll check out Monzo for DS's NY trip, as he'll have passed his 16th bd.
Yes, some contactless in SF and indeed elsewhere in California, but far less in evidence than in the UK.
Leaving NY aside for the moment, not a bad thing to be nudged into getting a debit card organised for her, OP.

EduCated · 18/08/2018 10:12

I would seriously avoid using a debit card overseas unless it’s an account with no exchange fees. It will work out horribly expensive.

Original poster
PhoebeFriends · 18/08/2018 10:10

She’s not 16 until April - I think we will have to go with a young persons debit account. To be fair I should have sorted her with years ago so at least she is financially aware if I’m not.

OP posts:
EduCated · 18/08/2018 10:02

Just looked and Monzo is 16+

When’s her birthday?

EduCated · 18/08/2018 09:56

If she is using a card you need to make sure it’s one which doesn’t add charges for use overseas - a debit card on a young persons account almost certainly will!

I use Monzo, which has a card and an app, and which doesn’t charge for use overseas. I don’t know if it has a minimum age though.

somewhereovertherain · 18/08/2018 09:55

Contactless used loads in SF

Would just check charges on the Barclays a/c for using abroad.

We sent our kids with some cash and a card to use if necessary but where visiting family.

If over 18 would suggest starling but we struggled to find a/c with no fees for overseas use for u18s this summer.

DolorestheNewt · 18/08/2018 09:50

Lucky DD! DS has a bank account with a debit card from Barclays. I do find it convenient if he rings me and asks for a quick top up if he wants to do something (and if I'm prepared to pay for it!) so it's a quick way of getting funds to your DD if she's abroad. The only downside was it was MONTHS before he could remember his PIN.

He could have had a contactless version, but we decided it would be better if it were not contactless for the time being so think about that option (less of an issue for the US, where, if California is anything to go by, contactless technology is not nearly as widely used).

Finally, in a lot of places in California, they still use signatures, but they don't actually check the signature against the card at all; if the card were nicked, you really wouldn't need to have any forgery skills at all to sign off on a purchase. But that's not too much of a problem if the amount of money in the account is fairly limited. Obviously no overdraft.

Interested to see other ideas as DS will also be going to NY, though not till 2020.