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?

Not sure why you don't want them carrying a card. It's easy and safer than cash because can be instantly cancelled/frozen if lost or stolen.

We use Hyperjar cards, free to use, usable anywhere Mastercard is including abroad. Kids card restrictions won't let them spend in a pub or gambling etc. Instantly move money onto the card when they need it using my app if they need extra money in an emergency. They have an app to so can see how much they have.

Agreed. My 15 year old has saved up £2.5k from doing a paper round for the last two years. He has bought himself a guitar amp and the ocassional computer game but most weeks his cash pay gets paid straight into the bank.

Why out of interest. There wouldn’t be an overdraft so he couldn’t spend more than he had

My son is 11 (year7), he uses cash if he’s just going to the shop on way home from school but has a rooster card when out at weekends etc. Just don’t like him taking the card to school and possibly loosing it. When he’s old enough, I’ll put his card on his Apple Pay.

My 11 year old has a kids Revolut account linked to ours where he manages his money via the app on his phone. He has multiple accounts he moves money in to, which act as a savings account. He only has a small amount of money in the account directly linked to his card. He can shunt money across via his phone if he needs more. If he loses his card and someone finds it and uses it to tap, there’s not much there. It’s easy to freeze/cancel via the app if you do lose it. Otherwise it’s cash.

Rooster Nat West. The gym cafe he and his friends go to doesn't take cash.

Cash and my card details are on the Google wallet on her phone so she can just tap her phone to pay for stuff

Cash or bank card, contactless HSBC bank card from 11 years old. Only a keep a small amount in it incase they lose their card. Rest of their money is in their savings account which is linked to their current account. Eldest is 14 and still no smartphone.

Cash or a Rooster debit card which I can control via the app.

Another one for Rooster Card here.

Cash or monzo.

DD had a Hyperjar for ages, just be aware it is not a regulated bank so don’t keep more money in it than needed for day to day spending.

I have one as well so they were linked so I could see what she was spending.

They do get a debit card but DD never used hers, she always used ApplePay.

Then she always had £20 in the back of her phone case just in case she needed cash, she rarely uses cash though, ApplePay is much more secure and just a lot easier - if she ever lost her phone she would be inconsolable 🤣 it has made her responsible with her phone!

Shes 18 now so has her own Monzo account that she manages herself now. The Hyperjar was good practice though.

My DD saves far more via her account - she has pots set up to save for specific things. She never did that with cash despite us encouraging it and her having money boxes etc.

+1 for HyperJar. We also previously used Go Henry but the charges were too much.

Also, as painful as it will be, get him onto his own Apple ID sooner rather than later. You’ll have much more control

Under 11 HyperJar - needs an adult account to set up kids. Can’t take out cash but free to use abroad which was one reason we got it. They can use the app too so when my daughter lost her card she froze it from the app and then got a notification someone was trying to use it so realised it had been stolen so we cancelled it altogether and got new one sent. I refused Go Henry as you have to pay.

After 11 normal kids bank account - one has NatWest as during Covid was the only bank we could get one from, but other has Lloyds as we have a branch closer. Both have apps.

11-13 was tricky as if they forget their card they don’t have the money. Which wasn’t always a bad thing. Once 13 we put them on Apple Pay so cards stay at home now and they never forget their phones - do sometimes forget to charge them though!! lol.

Neither like cash. Whenever they get cash for gifts they hand straight to me and ask me to transfer to bank.

My 3 children each have a NatWest Rooster card. I can add pocket money on the app really easily and they can use it in shops. The app also shows me what they have spent the money on.

My children aged 9, 13 & 14 all love the independence of having their own card and being able to use it themselves in shops.