How does your 11 year-old pay for things in shops?

[icloudornot]

Currently, my 11 year-old has an old phone of mine which he plays games on and talks to his friends using WhatsApp. However, he is beginning to get more independent and likes to go on errands. We are about to put a SIM card into the phone. I’ve created an Apple ID account for him. Thinking that was the right thing to do. However, I now realise he won’t have any access to Apple Pay as he is under the legal age of 13. He’s also looking a bit annoyed that he will have to re-download all his games and sign in again. What did you do for your kids? How do they pay for things in shops? I don’t really want him carrying around a cash card. You can buy a key ring that through an app can take funds out of a designated bank account. But now I’m wondering whether it’s easier to just leave him on my Apple ID until he is 13. Whenever he uses Apple Pay, I get a notification and so can see whether he is abusing the privilege. He’ll be at secondary school in September. While he’s on my Apple ID, I don’t think I can set up parental controls. This isn’t such an issue while he’s just playing Roblox, but it might be more of an issue once he’s a teenager. There’s nothing on my phone that I mind him seeing. Advice please, how do other people deal with this?

Mine had Monzo cards linked to my account (now upgraded to 16+ accounts). It’s great because you get a notification when they spend money and it’s really easy to top up or take money back if you want to.

Mine uses a Monzo card.

My older two got nationwide accounts. This pair though, they're 11, it's cash only for them atm as cash burns a hole in their pocket.

Just a bank card. He keeps it in the back of his phone (in a cover) and uses it contactlessly.

Child account with a debit card, not possible to spend more than was in the account. I topped up the account online but there was never much in the account so if they had lost the card it wouldn't have been too big a problem.

Cash is king...

My teenager has had her phone set up as though she’s 13 since she was 11 (for this reason, and we did have to wipe and start again with a new Apple ID). It still has all the proper parental controls - she can’t download apps or anything without us etc. But she has a credit card on there which she uses for spending, and it’s so much more straightforward than her using a bank card and using having to transfer her money.

Mine have HSBC accounts with a debit card that they put on their phones and pay with the phone they have access to their accounts online and control their own spending/saving with the attached savings account, it teaches budgeting, their pocket money goes in each month it's up to them if they spend it or save it for something. My eldest now also has a hyperjar account on her phone to pay for food at college, just tap to pay, I can see what she spends and top up as she needs it.

Monzo

My 11yr old uses her Rooster card. As I'm a NatWest customer it’s completely free and she can transfer money in & out of it. No transaction charges either. If you’d like to sign up, my DD’s referral link gives you £10 free :) https://roostermoney.com/referrals/5HX2V-J

Mine had debit cards at 11. Sometimes used cash but preferred not to, they tended to put any cash they were given into the bank so they could use the card.

Monzo debit card.

Rooster card or cash

Cash here too. Definitely prefer it as a way to learn value of money.
He also wears an analogue watch.

Hyoerjar card linked to my account and cash.

Mine used cash until age 12, and now (12 & 14) they use a mix of cash and their Rooster cards (a NatWest card, similar to GoHenry but free with a NatWest account). They didn’t have phones until secondary and then just got their own, but don’t need / have Apple Pay yet.

If you have an account with Natwest or RBS/UB you can get a Natwest Rooster account free for up to 3 kids, that's a pocket money app and you get alerted to spending etc, it blocks certain transactions and is very safe for that age. Or he can have a revolve/adapt account which is a junior current account, or check with your own bank what they have for that age group. Whatever you do, do not put him on your apple ID for apple pay as that will bypass safeguards for that age group and if any scams or fraud happen on your account, with you giving permission to someone else you won't be refunded as it is against t&cs

My 11 year old has a Monzo car which we top up

Thanks for all your replies. It looks like most of these 11-year-olds are walking around with a cash card. I’ll have to give this some thought.

This is not a good idea, and would invalidate any claim for fraud. Legal age limits are there for a reason

A Nationwide card that we transfer pocket money into https://www.nationwide.co.uk/current-accounts/flexone/ We’ve just received notification for Nationwide that DC will receive £100 from them (Fairer Share payment). The card is kept in a magnetic case on the phone.

got a 12 year old here. Last year when he turned 11 we opened him a bank account which gave him a bank card it’s the same bank i use and im able to help him manage his accounts. So he keeps the bulk of his money in his savings and has a minimal amount in his current account. He has the app on his phone so he can transfer if he’s out and needs to. He has his own Apple ID and your right it’s 13before it will allow Apple Pay but that’s ok! He also has a stash of cash that he keeps in his room so will generally take that when going out plus his bank card for emergencies.

Debit card that they keep in their phone case.

Debit card linked to his kids account, we get notifications if he spends on it. He only keeps in an amount he is happy to spend. Any funds above that he moves to his savings so he is not tempted.
I work within Fraud please don't let him use your Apple pay regularly, the age limit is there for a reason and if there is fraud done on it you could lose any rights as it would be classed as misuse of facilities.
My son has an android phone so it's Google pay which Halifax doesn't allow for under 16's much to my sons dismay 🤣

Go Henry.