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Original poster

Go Henry and all that nonsense

26 replies

Gonzales2020JAKE10 · 07/05/2019 02:51

I daftly got some Go Henry cards a while ago. Don't know why I did to be honest. They have never used them. As like most of us, I signed the T&C's. So when I tried to cancel them, and even with my online banking, I could not locate them to do so?
I'll sort it out, and this is really not the reason why I have sent this message.
I realised that our kids, at such an early age, should definitely not be a part of the 'debit' culture we live in? As Adults, we have no choice to be that way.
Its so important for our kids to see what huge effort it takes to make money, and understand what this entails?
Money is not everything for sure, but a basic understanding of it is key. Simple economics.
Kids actually prefer cash. Do chores, get cash. This is their freedom.
I know that for sure. I had two paper rounds a day at 8. I had my own money, and that made me feel independent.
Lets not dissolve our kids further into the faceless bullshit debit card society.
They do not need that, and neither do we!
A

I daftly got some Go Henry cards a while ago. Don't know why I did to be honest. They have never used them. As like most of us, I signed the T&C's. So when I tried to cancel them, and even with my online banking, I could not locate them to do so?
I'll sort it out, and this is really not the reason why I have sent this message.
I realised that our kids, at such an early age, should definitely not be a part of the 'debit' culture we live in? As Adults, we have no choice to be that way.
Its so important for our kids to see what huge effort it takes to make money, and understand what this entails?
Money is not everything for sure, but a basic understanding of it is key. Simple economics.
Kids actually prefer cash. Do chores, get cash. This is their freedom.
I know that for sure. I had two paper rounds a day at 8. I had my own money, and that made me feel independent.
Lets not dissolve our kids further into the faceless bullshit debit card society.
They do not need that, and neither do we!
A

OP posts:
ethal80 · 07/05/2019 03:09

I had to Google for a contact number and phone up to cancel the account. Pretty straight forward but it cannot be done online for some reason. Totally agree with you, cash all the way at such a young age.

RozHuntleysStump · 07/05/2019 07:49

My kids have had Osper cards for years. Don’t know what you’re on about re cash. Mine spend all their money on the internet. Either game money or ordering things. Cash is useless to them.

RozHuntleysStump · 07/05/2019 07:50

Also, it really annoys me when people refuse to accept that the world has moved on since they were kids.

Fazackerley · 07/05/2019 07:52

Cash is partially useless to mine as they buy stuff online.

Go Henry etc are shit though because they cost. Just get a free bank account with online capability - my 12 year old has a Lloyd's one with a debit card and no overdraft facility. It's free.

BornInAThunderstorm · 07/05/2019 07:53

Ds uses his go henry account to save. There is a saving facility on there. Also kids these days use the internet, debit cards are best for that

crumpet · 07/05/2019 07:53

Mine have go Henry, and tbh I hope dd keeps hers until she heads off to University in a couple of years and opens her own bank account. We’ve found it useful to do last minute top ups when she’s out and about and she likes the freedom of ordering stuff on my online accounts and instantly transferring money back. She also uses the function to set aside an amount regularly to have a separate fund saved for the summer holidays.

dementedpixie · 07/05/2019 07:54

I wouldn't pay for them when you can get a bank account with debit card at the age of 11 free. Used cash up until then and now pocket money is paid by standing order into their bank accounts

shedid · 07/05/2019 07:55

We love our Go Henry account.
Far easier for my two to learn about saving and spending within your budget.
And I don't really use cash at all so it's much easier for me; their cards top up every week automatically.

dementedpixie · 07/05/2019 07:57

If your children are 11 or older it is cheaper and just as easy to get them a current account with a debit card from a high street bank

BertrandRussell · 07/05/2019 08:01

I’d rather my ds had his Osper card than a pocket full of cash.

Oh, and I don’t agree with linking basic chores and pocket money either, but that’s for another thread!

SymphonyofShadows · 07/05/2019 08:07

DS1 has had a Go Henry card for quite a while. He has ASD and loses cash/cards quite easily. I can set limits and suspend the card when he loses it (again!). He’s 21 now and it’s still as useful as ever.

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 07/05/2019 08:10

Yes very young children like "pennies" or coins

But we are living in an increasinly cashless society. Buses in london no longer take cash, even in my semi rural area of the cotswalds buses take contactless cards mcdonalds use touch screen ordering points, the actual person operated tills are limited and very rearly is thete actually any one there to serve. Supermarkets encourage use of self service (in some card only) checkouts. This is without the online gaming stores that are so fundermental to childrens lives these days.

I doubt you had two paper rounds a day when you were 8, even when k was a kid you had to be 11 before you could get one. And yes i remember the delight on fridays of getting coins to get a 10p mix up.

However i dont rewlly see the point of paying for GoHenry etc when many of the free junior bank accounts come with debit cards these days.

Debit cards are much the same as cash as in you can only spend what you have. If you were talking about credit and geting in to debt i might agree but debt and debit are not the same thingb

PatriciaHolm · 07/05/2019 08:14

DD got thrown off a bus in the summer as it didn't take cash.

Little kids cash for sure, older ones who need to learn independence, not so much. Plus if cash is lost or stolen, it's gone; a debit card can be stopped immediately through an app, greatly limiting loss.

Fazackerley · 07/05/2019 08:14

'Debit culture'? Do you mean credit cards?

BertrandRussell · 07/05/2019 08:17

Incidentally, when I am World Dictator, anyone who refers to money to young children as “pennies” will be executed. “Here’s a few pennies for sweets” is marginally OK. “ No, we can’t buy that house, we haven’t got enough pennies” is not fine.

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 07/05/2019 11:27

Debit culture'? Do you mean credit cards?

I think OP has got Debt and debit confused. I think they meab "debt culture" as in we rely on debt to get through which we as a society kimd of do, and i agree probably best not to get kids in to the habit of easy money and borrowing at will.

And they think debit and credit cards are the same things and you borrow on go henry etc

Fazackerley · 07/05/2019 11:30

If your child has no concept of borrowing and spending the money that they have then they probably shouldn't have a bank account tbh.

As I've said, my 12 year olds Lloyds account doesn't have an overdraft.

Can you borrow money on Go Henry Shock?

Thesearmsofmine · 07/05/2019 11:32

Mine like cash but they are 8 and under, wen they get to 11/12 I will switch to accounts and a card, I had one at that age over 20 years ago.

allworthwhile · 07/05/2019 11:35

The “debit culture?”

Debit cards are totally fine - it’s the credit culture you need to worry about.

I don’t think debit cards work in the way you think they work!

englishdictionary · 07/05/2019 11:46

There is nothing wrong with kids using debit cards. As a society we are moving further away from cash. What do you think you are protecting them from by not allowing them to keep up with the times?

I'm not a fan of go Henry etc but a current account with a debit card is fine.

As an aside, don't be proud that you did 2 paper rounds a day when you were 8 years old. That's fucking awful. But also don't confuse earning money with how it's spent.

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 07/05/2019 12:13

Can you borrow money on Go Henry?

No you cant its the same as debit card. Which is why everyones saying a junior bank account with a debit card is just as good arguabley better because thier free

What i'm saying is i think OP has got confused and thought that gohenry is a credit card, ie debt and thought 'debit' means the same as 'debt'

See they say their children have never used them well if theres no money on them they wouldnt be able to use them.any way.

Hollowvictory · 07/05/2019 12:17

My kids have free bank accounts and contact less debit cards from the bank. You don't need to pay for pocket money cards.

englishdictionary · 07/05/2019 12:17

I don’t think the OP has confused things. They seem to be raging about children using cards over cash, because apparently cards are ‘faceless’

MyGastIsFlabbered · 07/05/2019 12:54

My 9 and 6 year olds love feeling grown up with a debit card. They're too young to have a proper bank account. Yes I have to pay but I think it's teaching them an invaluable lesson about money.

dementedpixie · 07/05/2019 13:17

I think 11 is young enough to learn. Cash worked fine up until then