Bank account for spending money only - helping vulnerable relative

[Pemba]

I am trying to help a relative, she's on benefits (which are constantly changing, being frozen etc., I'm sure you know how things are these days). She is sick at the moment and has had lots of problems (domestic violence etc.). She has never been taught to budget growing up (which wasn't my responsibility BTW). When she gets money coming in she tends to just spend it, then for example a gas bill will arrive and she can't pay it, family have to bail her out. To be fair her current benefits are very low.

Another family member suggested she have two accounts, one her existing account where the benefits go in, and important bills are paid out of. And that she doesn't touch it anymore, but we set up another account for her where family members can pay her a small monthly allowance, this she can use for 'fun money' and all discretionary spending.

She has agreed to this, but can anyone recommend such an account that she could get? I looked on Martin Lewis's website and he is recommending things like the Post Office Card Account. But they want your benefits to be paid in there. She just needs a very very basic account (no overdraft obviously) with a card where you can withdraw cash, (and maybe pay for things in shops and online?). Can anyone recommend one? Want to avoid any with monthly fees or transaction fees as well. If possible. So something similar to a child's account like my DCs got at the age of 13, but for an adult.

Thanks.

Have a look at Monzo, that seems to fit what you need it for. It’s an online bank that you control through an app on your phone that keeps track of your spending. You can arrange it all from the app.

Monzo! It's so simple to use with the app and shows me exactly what I'm spending and where.

Cross post for Monzo! Great minds...

How about making it a standard building society savings account instead of a bank account and she can just withdraw cash from that.

In addition you could get her a prepaid credit card so that she could keep it topped up with, say, £100, and use it to pay for things online.

Was also going to suggest Monzo. It also helps with budgeting so you could transfer more autonomy in time

I came on to say Monzo too! And it'll breakdown your spending into a report to help you understand it too :)

Thanks a lot, am going to look into Monzo!

@AllTheCakes it's great, I love it and I'm rubbish with money!!

Money or Starling bank accounts. Both very similar but I thing Starling is a little easier to open and use.

I've got Starling and will be setting one up soon for my autistic daughter.

Op

If you are giving your relative money into a bank account...this will be questioned by housing benefits as to where this money is coming from, as she will have to produce the bank statements from both accounts (as legally required)

This could inadvertently cause your relative further problems

Could you take it in turns to buy her a supermarket gift card or similar

The Co-op and Barclays do basic bank accounts. No overdraft or frills, but you get a normal debit card you can use to pay in shops and online, to get cash out of course, and online banking.