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Original poster

Teenager - USA school trip

22 replies

MrsLindor · 20/01/2020 07:41

DD is going on holiday with school, I'm wondering how to send money with her.

I would usually take a no fee credit card and pay it off when I get home but at 17 she's too young for an additional card. She needs money for all meals and I don't want to send lots of cash. She has a debit card but I avoid those because of fees. Anyone had this situation?

OP posts:
madamy · 20/01/2020 07:50

We took preloaded money cards to Australia. You can get them from Post Office, Sainsbury's and other companies. You load them with money at that days exchange rate, so you could keep tabs on the balance and load more if she needs it. They're often Mastercard, so used just as a regular card. No fee for card use in USA but small fee for cash withdrawal eg $2. Have a read of the moneysavingexpert website.

wowfudge · 20/01/2020 07:52

Look into Curve card.

Parker231 · 20/01/2020 07:56

We use Caxton fx cards - ideal for travelling to avoid additional charges and means you don’t have to carry lots of cash.

FAQs · 20/01/2020 07:56

When my day went skiing with school to USA, I gave her cash, school gave guidelines via the itinerary, when lunch was and wasn’t included and shopping etc. I also gave her my overseas Halifax credit card and gave her a spend limit.

WhatHaveIFound · 20/01/2020 07:57

What about a Monzo card? DD has one and it's accepted anywhere that takes Mastercard. She applied online and it was with her withing a week. I can transfer money into it like i would her bank account.

DeanImpala67 · 20/01/2020 07:59

I second Monzo, we use them abroad loads and so easy to move money in and out and see your balance and spending.

yummypancakes · 20/01/2020 12:16

My kids have Nationwide accounts - no cash withdrawal fees globally

Original poster
MrsLindor · 20/01/2020 23:14

I did wonder about just giving her my Halifax Credit Card, I wasn't sure if there would be an issue with her using it on the US.

OP posts:
Rinsefirst · 20/01/2020 23:26

Monzo and it comes 48 hrs and you can load it with money every day from your phone

BritWifeinUSA · 21/01/2020 04:19

@MrsLindor there probably would be an issue with her using your card here. We don’t have chip and pin so we sign when we pay by credit card. Some places ask for ID to check the card is yours, others study the signature on the card and compare it with the slip you’ve signed. We live in a very small community where everyone knows everyone and I’ve paid for petrol with my husband’s card and vice versa and they don’t even look but big cities are different.

MiniGuinness · 21/01/2020 04:37

Most places in the US do have chip and pin, and no one has ever checked my DD's signature if she is using my card.

ioioitsoff · 21/01/2020 05:08

Most places in the US do have chip and pin, and no one has ever checked my DD's signature if she is using my card.

Surely that's completely against the law ?

lovelyupnorth · 21/01/2020 05:16

At 17 she can open a starling account. Free to use abroad and dead easy to top up as you need for her.

As regards to how much, how much has school suggested?

lovelyupnorth · 21/01/2020 05:20

Both my DDs have starling and one currently in west Africa uses it all the time.

I wouldn’t suggest sending a card in your name we had to produce ID repeatedly in the States when using a credit card.

Starling or. Monzo the best way to go.

lovelyupnorth · 21/01/2020 05:22

@MiniGuinness - depends on the state and also the cashiers knowledge as I used chip and pin in a few places in California who didn’t realise we could. But struggled in Arizona. By letting them use your card you’re opening yourself to all sorts of problems.

@

Bloomburger · 21/01/2020 05:30

Tho k DH uses a Revolute card which you just load £ on and can use it few free anywhere. He works in money markets and so rates must be ok and it's easily tracked in the app to see what's being spent and tops up easily by way of app.

AlwaysCheddar · 21/01/2020 05:35

Caxton card

MiniGuinness · 21/01/2020 06:17

no one has ever checked my DD's signature if she is using my card.

Surely that's completely against the law?
No, not with permission. Could be against the credit card agreement, but not against law no.

MiniGuinness · 21/01/2020 06:19

But yes OP, thinking about it if using a foreign card they probably would need ID. But depends where you are going because I have not had to sign anything for many years and they even have contactless now.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 21/01/2020 06:48

Do not let your daughter use your own card under any circumstances, doing that could set you up for a whole host of troubles with your credit card provider, this card also remains their property.

She needs a monzo card of her own. Chip and pin is now widely seen within the usa

Original poster
MrsLindor · 21/01/2020 07:36

Thanks everyone we’ll get a card ordered. School have suggested $50 per day but I don’t think that’s going to be enough, breakfast is included on 2 mornings out of 6 but no other food is included, I need to be able to top up if needed.

OP posts:
Inforthelonghaul · 21/01/2020 07:45

Recommend Revolut card too. DH uses it when he’s abroad with work, it’s very easy and works really well.

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