GREENLIGHT DEBIT CARD FOR KIDS

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Parenting is hard, it's time consuming, and it's full of arguments I'd rather not have, especially when it comes to figuring out how to sort allowance. (read more)

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A DEBIT CARD FOR KIDS
​WHY I WANTED IT

If your looking for Greenlight Debit Card for kids reviews, you've come to the right place. We've been using the card for almost six months now, and I (as a parent) could not be happier.

When my oldest started getting an allowance, he was around ten years old. In exchange for him not giving me any issues with school work, keeping his room clean, taking out the trash, and mowing the lawn, he got $10.00 a week. 

My youngest was only seven, but if you have more than one child, you know that what you do for the oldest, the youngest wants as well. So, in short order, my youngest was getting $5.00 a week for keeping his room clean, getting his school work done, and mowing the edge of the lawn (so my oldest could easily reach the rest with the riding mower). 

It was great, no problem, until they discovered that thing which all parents of digital age children loathe...

The app store.

Suddenly, they wanted apps, they wanted Robux, they wanted games on Steam. They'd walk up to me, hand me a $5 bill, their iPad and say, "Can I please have this app, it's $4.99."

I'd take the money, buy the app, and not mention the tax I was also paying. 

This wasn't a huge issue, but I knew I needed to teach them things like sales tax, only I didn't love having to deal with getting an extra dollar from them, making change, etc.

I told you I was lazy.

During this period, we also started dealing with other monetary things like them wanting to buy things on Amazon with their allowance, "advances" on their allowance, and the all too common "You didn't pay me this week, mom."

In their defense, I might not have paid them. I couldn't remember, I didn't track it, and I didn't see myself tracking it anytime soon.

There had to be a better way. Turns out, there is, and it's called Greenlight.

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GREENLIGHT DEBIT CARD FOR KIDS
​WHAT IS IT?

I kept seeing advertisements in my Facebook feed for this thing called Greenlight. There's a smiling young girl proudly holding up what looks like a credit card that has her picture on it. 

At first I was like, "Pfft, that is dumb!" I mean, I didn't have a debit card when I was a kid, and I was just fine. My mother paid us in poker chips because she never had any cash on her, and we'd just redeem them whenever she happened to remember to get cash out of the bank.

It worked fine. 

Sometimes I have to rein in the part of me that doesn't want to adapt to new technology, you know?

I also didn't have a cell phone when I was a kid, or internet, or Netflix, but I love all of these things now, and I love that my kids have access to them. Just because we didn't grow up with it doesn't mean it's bad, or that our children are spoiled.

It took a few times of this ad going through my feed before I really started thinking about getting Greenlight for my boys. I had to process the thought of them having access to digital money. 

But then I realized just how many headaches this would eliminate for me. I wouldn't have to use my credit/debit card to make purchases for them. I wouldn't have to be the bad guy explaining they didn't have enough to buy an item because they hadn't figured in tax. I wouldn't have to mess with advancing their allowance because I could just tell them that the money had to come out on the same day each week (a lie, but who cares). I would know for sure when I paid them because it would be tracked in the app. 

And, probably most importantly, if they needed money in an emergency for some reason, I'd be able to get it to them. That's a huge deal!

When I thought about all of those things, I had a hard time remembering why I was worried about it in the first place. But, I did have concerns, so I'll share them with you, in case you're having concerns as well, then I'll go over exactly how it works.

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GREENLIGHT DEBIT CARD FOR KIDS
​FAQ

IS THIS A CREDIT CARD? No, there is no credit. It's money you (the parent) put on the card from a funding source you choose, like your bank account. It will not let your kids overdraft, and it will also not build a credit rating for them.

HOW OLD DO THEY HAVE TO BE? There is no minimum age. Imagine you have given your child a prepaid Visa card for Christmas, the kind you buy off the shelf at the grocery store. Same idea. If they can use a gift card, they can use Greenlight.

WHAT IF IT GETS STOLEN? Greenlight cards require a pin number to use, one your child sets, but that you can reset anytime you want. So, if the card gets lost or stolen, you can simply change the pin and order a new card. Also, you have the ability to define where your child can use the card (and where they cannot use the card) so that would make it even harder for a thief to take it and use it.

You are also alerted each time a transaction takes place. This gives you the name of the store where the Greenlight card was used, how much was spent, and the day it was used. If the card is used by someone other than your child, you'll know.

GREENLIGHT DEBIT CARD FEES - Yes, there is a $5.00 monthly fee to use Greenlight. That is per account, not per card. So, if you have more than one card, you still only pay the $5.00 monthly fee. This covers all banking, transfers, etc.

GREENLIGHT DEBIT CARD COST -  You have no minimum balance other than the initial amount you must put in, which is $20. After that, if and when you deposit into your parent or child account is entirely up to you. Just remember there will be a recurring $5.00 monthly fee, so it's best to only get the card if you plan on using them.

CAN MY CHILD USE GREENLIGHT IF THEY DON'T HAVE A CELLPHONE? Yes, they can. I ran into this exact scenario because my oldest has a phone, but my youngest does not. I'll cover that further down. It's simple.

HOW DO I SET IT UP? Let's talk about that in the next section.

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GREENLIGHT DEBIT SIGN UP

Set up is simple and fast. As long as you (the parent) have a cell phone, a bank account, and a child in want of a debit card, you're all set. 

Start by going to Greenlight (just click wherever you see that word) and downloading the app to your phone. The icon looks like a little green star burst.

Once you've downloaded it, you'll be asked to enter your cell phone number to get started. From there you'll be asked to enter a funding source.

As you can see, my current wallet amount is $0.00 because my Mom gave the kids money for their birthdays. I had them give me the cash, and I funded their Greenlight cards with an equivalent amount. I have my Greenlight app set to add money whenever I get below $100, so it'll be funded again in a day or two. 

However, you do have the option to fund right away once you've got your bank account verified. I was $7.00 short to fund my youngest's birthday money exchange, so I just told the app to make a transfer, and it did, easy peasy. 

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Next you'll need to add the children who will be receiving their very own Greenlight card. The process takes just a few moments to complete, and you can even do fun things like add a profile picture for them. 

From there you can choose to fund your child's debit card on a set timer (like once a week) or you can choose to do it whenever you want. I don't have it set up to fund automatically. Instead, I make sure they've done everything I've asked of them, then I fund their allowance.

​But, while I love the freedom of choice, that's not the best part of this app. Let's talk chores.

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GREENLIGHT DEBIT CARD FOR KIDS
​CHORES

This is probably the thing that sent me over the edge when I was on the fence about whether or not to get my boys Greenlight cards. We are a chores family, there are things they have to do, but I am the person who has to make sure they do them. I get that, I'm a parent, it's my job. However, anything to make that job a little easier is most welcome. 

Greenlight allows me to enter chores for my kids to do, chores they see in their apps. I can choose from pre-made chores, or I can make special ones, like "Clean your bird cage".

When they check off these chores, I see it in my app. If the chore isn't checked, I give them less allowance. They know the deal, and the fighting about chores has taken a nosedive. It's wonderful! 

Now, of course they can check it off and not actually do the chore, so I still have to verify it each day, but that's the life of a manager, I mean...momager. :)

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The chores can be daily or one time. So if your kids do things once a week like take out the trash or mow the lawn, you can add those and not have them show up daily. 

If they need help remembering to brush their teeth (I can't be alone in this) you can easily make it something that shows up every day, without fail. Really the possibilities here are endless.

Let's talk about some other things Greenlight lets you do.

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GREENLIGHT DEBIT CARD FOR KIDS
SPENDING, SAVING, GIVING

Greenlight gives your kids the freedom of spending money where they want, but it gives you the control of limiting that freedom, should you choose to do so. 

Not only do you get to see precisely where and how much they have spent, but you also get to determine any places you don't want them using the card.

If you do not elect to fund the "Spend Anywhere" account, and your child tries to spend money at a store you have not pre-approved, they can send you an in-app message asking permission, which you can grant or deny. The same goes for funding any expenses you might not have planned for. Your child can make a request, you can make the decision.

Putting money into their "Spend Anywhere" account will allow them to use the money anywhere, as it says. However, putting money into a specific store account, which you set up from the app, allows them only to spend money at that store. 

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You can also use Greenlight to allow your kids to donate to their favorite charities. You determine the amount, they can pick the charity, and you get to approve it. 

Saving is something else you can do with Greenlight. Not only can your kids set aside money to be saved, but you can add to it by setting up your own interest rate to reward them for their restraint and foresight. 

They can also set up a savings goal for a specific item they want, like a VR Headset for their playstation, or a Hoverboard. :)

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GREENLIGHT DEBIT CARD FOR KIDS
INVITING YOUR KIDS

When you add a child to Greenlight, you will be asked to enter their phone number. They will receive a text from Greenlight that lets them know you've invited them to use the app. 

Once they've got that text, all they need to do is download the app from their device. 

HOW TO ACTIVATE GREENLIGHT CARD - Your child's debit card will arrive in the mail in 5-10 days, and can be activated from their phone or your phone once you have the physical card in hand. It's as easy as clicking on the child's name, then entering the expiration date of the debit card.

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Since I've shown you the standard Greenlight (green) card, and you're seeing here two custom cards, let's talk about that, because it's pretty cool.

Greenlight sends you their standard green card free of charge. It's basic, it does what it needs to do, it's absolutely great. However, if you're like me and you want to make this a big event, you might consider customizing your child's card, like I did. 

The process is very easy and can be done right in your phone from your Greenlight app. All you do is go into the app, select the child you want to customize a card for, choose an appropriate photo, adjust the picture so it lays on the card just where you want it, and order. 

I used a picture of my oldest son's pet cockatiel for his card, and a picture my youngest son drew for his YouTube channel for his card.

It does cost $9.99 per card, so it's not free, but if you want to do this, I love that it's an option.

IMPORTANT - If you activate the regular (green) Greenlight debit card you get in the mail, and then order a custom card, you must CALL Greenlight and activate the custom card. You can't do it from the app. Their customer service number is (888) 483-2645.

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GREENLIGHT DEBIT CARD FOR KIDS
​NO PHONE, NO PROBLEM

Your kids can use Greenlight whether they have a phone or not, but they have to have a phone number in order to be able to use the app, which I believe is an integral part of the experience. 

Without the phone number, they can't see the chores, check them off, see their balance and spending, etc. 

But, if you have a young child without a phone (like my 9 year old), you might be wondering how to make the app happen on their device. 

All you need to do is head over to Google Voice and sign them up for a phone number. It's free. It only requires that you enter a cell phone number that your child's number will be forwarded to (use yours). Once you set up the account, remove your number as the forwarding number and add your child's email address instead. 

Yes, my kids have email addresses, even though they don't use email (yet). I have their email linked to messenger on their iPads, which is no longer necessary for my 12 year old since he has a phone, but came in very handy before we decided to get him a phone.

I'll write a blog post further detailing Google Voice, just in case you have any questions, but I promise, it's very easy. 

If your kids have cellphones, you don't even need to worry about this step.

Let's finish up by talking about Greenlight's "refer a friend" program.

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GREENLIGHT DEBIT CARD FOR KIDS
REFER A FRIEND

You're going to love Greenlight, and when your kid's friends see them pay for a purchase with a debit card, they are going to mention it to their parents.

When this happens, you be sure to tell their parents that you'll send them a link. As long as they use the link to sign up for their own account, you'll get $10.00 AND they'll get $10.00 after they complete their free 30 day trial and pay their first $5.00 fee. 

To get your link, simply go into your Greenlight app and click the "Refer a friend, get $10" text.

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IT'S REALLY THAT EASY

I really hope you've found this post helpful, and I hope I've covered all of the bases, but if you have any questions, feel free to ask! 

As of this update, around six months since we got the cards, I can tell you that I love them and my kids love them as well. They have to think about the money they spend, decide how much they want to put in savings (so they can earn interest), and they enjoy the freedom of not having to ask me for money every time they want this or that new "best" thing.  I have even linked both of their cards to their iTunes accounts so that when they buy an app they are responsible for everything, even tax. 

It's been a fantastic addition to our parenting tool belt, and I feel good knowing that I'm teaching them early on about budgeting and saving.

Don't forget to use my link (it's in all of the words that say Greenlight) so that you and I both can get $10.00 when you get your kids their own cards.

Ty

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