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Original poster

What's the point of GoHenry?

192 replies

Namechangeforthis88 · 03/05/2021 19:57

Inspired by the another thread, I decided to get DS a GoHenry card today. I was part way through before checking the charges, I assumed it would be minimal. It's £2.99 a month. I checked what my bank offer for, a child account doesn't have any monthly charge, he'll get a debit card, I can set up a standing order for pocket money and, if I need to top it up, that's free, while GoHenry is a 50p charge for ad hoc top ups. I don't get it. The quotes on their website from people saying how GoHenry is teaching their kids to manage their money are a bit ironic, aren't they all chucking £36 a year away? Or am I missing something?

OP posts:

00100001 · 04/05/2021 15:56

@Ilovemaisie

An app doesn't stop you knowing what's in there obviously. But if the app or online banking system went down surely you would need to keep track of what's being spent while they sort it. It's an extreme 'what if' scenario but it could happen. If the systems were down for a week would you not just think "ok I checked yesterday and I had £250" and then during that week you would just keep a tally of what you are spending to make sure you don't go over £250. The problem is there are a lot of people that unfortunately don't have the maths skills to add up the amounts on their receipts either by pen or paper or in their head. Over relying on technology is not good. My first retail job (1990s)was a very basic till system. It would add the prices up but not tell us what change to give. You had to count it out in your head. I could do this at a pretty fast pace. Jump 20 years and the tills were all singing all dancing and did it all - except when they went wrong and we had to count the change ourselves or work out how much to remove to turn an amount into a 3 for 2. It was suddenly such a shock to have to figure it out manually. Our brains (of perfectly intelligent people) suddenly went "arrrgh" because we were so used to have the technology do it for us.

I don't see your point really.

Just because tech MIGHT fail you one day, isn't a reason not to use it.

It brings many advantages, that you seem to be ignoring ... You could "ah! But what about...?" ANYTHING.

What if your electricity cuts off for 24hrs... you're so reliant on it... So we should all be using candles every day, just in case we lose the skill of striking a match...

Terminallysleepdeprived · 04/05/2021 16:46

I have just looked at the revolt thing and to have a junior account you have to have an adult one also...the basic ones is £2.99/month so the same as gohenry and I don't have to hmchange my bank account...think I will stock with gohenry

Which incidentally holds its funds with Natwest. They have no access to the money so even if it goes belly up the money is safe and with natwest for us to access. I did a lot of research and this genuinely seemed the best and safest option

Billandben444 · 04/05/2021 18:03

If I need to do a bank transfer to someone I pop to the bank and it takes two minutes.

This must be a joke, surely? We have long queues to even get into our bank let alone carry out a transaction.

iusedtohavechickens · 04/05/2021 18:10

Go Henry sends you notifications on what they are buying, you can access PIN number and set up pocket money chores. I also have rooster (we foster and you can only have 4 children in go Henry) roooster is cheaper and they both offer the same x

00100001 · 04/05/2021 18:15

@Ilovemaisie

I read the monthly bank statements. I know how much goes in monthly, what goes out on direct debits and roughly whatever amount will be left. And I take it from there. No one has given me a cheque to pay in for donkeys years. If I need to do a bank transfer to someone I pop to the bank and it takes two minutes. Yes I could do it at home online if I wanted too but I am usually out at the shops once a week so I just do it then.

LOL. I'll have transferred the money before you even put your coat on to leave the house... Heck I can do it whilst waiting in the queue to pay for the weekly shop.

My bank is about 7 miles away, and open about 3.5 days a week for around 12 hours total... Not so easy to "pop in".

Continue to do as you do. But I can't fathom how you can't see the point of an app.

mercimacherie · 04/05/2021 18:40

@Ilovemaisie

Tbh you seem stuck in the past and if you don't even use banking apps for your own accounts I can understand why you "don't get" Go Henry.

I'm certainly not a helicopter parent but I do like having the ability to set limits on my youngest dd's card and transfer their bday/xmas money onto it.

Re why does an under 11 year old need a debit card? For our family I much prefer each dd having their own cards and being able to use them online, on holiday, when out shopping etc rather than DH or I paying and then having to get the money off them, or what more often happened, just ending up paying.

Ilovemaisie · 04/05/2021 19:17

Ok I am back for one last post. To be honest I don't care one way or another about banking apps. I have no need for one. If you like them then fine. Have one. I don't care. There are a lot of things that people spend money on that I don't 'get' or see the point of (wine, make up, designer handbags, copies of the Daily Mail...). Everyone is different as to what is important to spend their money on.
Whatever. Pay your £3 a month or whatever it is and be happy. I won't pay £3 a month or whatever it is and I will be happy. We are all happy.
Everyone be happy.

Dozer · 04/05/2021 19:17

Don’t think you can use debit cards for under 13s with a traditional bank account?

Dozer · 04/05/2021 19:17

Sorry, think that’s under 11

bunniesanddaisies · 04/05/2021 19:30

You’ve made twenty posts on this thread arguing and arguing.

You do care!

00100001 · 04/05/2021 19:32

@Ilovemaisie

Ok I am back for one last post. To be honest I don't care one way or another about banking apps. I have no need for one. If you like them then fine. Have one. I don't care. There are a lot of things that people spend money on that I don't 'get' or see the point of (wine, make up, designer handbags, copies of the Daily Mail...). Everyone is different as to what is important to spend their money on. Whatever. Pay your £3 a month or whatever it is and be happy. I won't pay £3 a month or whatever it is and I will be happy. We are all happy. Everyone be happy.

I take your point about the designer handbags thing. :)

But it felt like you were saying you don't see the point of handbags full stop. Because you don't use one, why should anyone ever need to use one? Because they can just use their pockets after all?

Ilovemaisie · 04/05/2021 19:34

Actually I hate handbags and wish I could shove everything in pockets
(I usually use a backpack)

Ilovemaisie · 04/05/2021 19:37

Bunnies I was attempting to get someone to explain a good reason for the cards and to explain the point.
No one did tbh. Because I still don't see the point.
Bye again.
I am off for a bubble bath.

AndWhat · 04/05/2021 19:49

It baffles me as to why some parents who now have grown up children ‘did it better’ than the parents of younger children today. Why can’t we accept times change. I didn’t have the option of having a bank card until I was 13.
However I mostly spent cash in a shop as that’s what my parents did, I also wrote cheques when I was old enough copying my mum and dad. My 8 year old has never even seen a cheque but he does know how a debit card works. He understands it’s his money and not just a bit of plastic. He understands the importance of keeping his pin safe and is able to add up in the shop if he has enough money.

It’s the ‘didn’t need it in my day, so don’t need it now’ argument. Yet times change

RedHotChiliChips · 04/05/2021 19:50

My DS had GH for five years, he's 13 now and we just stopped it and got him a regular account at Barclays. GH worked fine and when we got his card, the monthly charge didn't exist, it's only been introduced in recent years. We've never paid it for either DC's accounts (younger one still has his GH).

The ones who ask why a primary school aged child would need a debit card? Where we live, it's very common of Y5 and Y6 aged kids to visit our village Costa or the supermarket on weekends. They go independently with their friends. They might also take the bus to the next village for a little jaunt.

Also on day trips and holidays in the UK, our DC might want to buy something with their own money.

Yes they could carry cash with them but having the card stops me having to have coins available at moments notice and tbh their future will be fairly cashless anyway.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcoln · 04/05/2021 19:58

@Terminallysleepdeprived

Yes you do need an adult revolut account - but this is also free (mine definitely doesn't charge). There is a charge for the adult debit card if you want it, but I haven't got one.

Soubriquet · 05/05/2021 04:11

@AndWhat

It baffles me as to why some parents who now have grown up children ‘did it better’ than the parents of younger children today. Why can’t we accept times change. I didn’t have the option of having a bank card until I was 13. However I mostly spent cash in a shop as that’s what my parents did, I also wrote cheques when I was old enough copying my mum and dad. My 8 year old has never even seen a cheque but he does know how a debit card works. He understands it’s his money and not just a bit of plastic. He understands the importance of keeping his pin safe and is able to add up in the shop if he has enough money.

It’s the ‘didn’t need it in my day, so don’t need it now’ argument. Yet times change

Precisely

I wonder how many get the mangle out to dry press their clothes before hanging them to dry?

None I would say. Cos they have a washing machine

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