reloadable debit cards?

[bellebud]

My son in Utah (I'm in Fl) set himself up a Netspend debit card. I'm trying to send him money, but not having any luck.

I think he needs a Paypal card (???)

Basically, my question is, who sends their kids money on a debit card and which do you use?

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I use greendot

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I know that Western Union can be used to add to some of those those kinds of cards. I am not entirely sure which cards they do, but it would not surprise me at all if Netspend was one of them.

For the record, I do not like Western Union. I think many grocery stores and stuff have Western Union available. Some banks do in fact, I know a bank I worked for did, and it was a huge pain in the behind to deal with Western Union about anything.

 

[Imzadi]

I would do a reloadable Visa debit card. It's a trusted name.

One has to be careful with PayPal. They sometimes freeze accounts for no good reason - and don't give you the money that's in the account. Google it. Plus, they have to mail him the card.

As for some of those other reloadable debit cards, there is a monthly fee of about $4 - $5 per month. Make sure you read the fine print.

If he needs something right away, like groceries, many local supermarkets now deliver. You can order online, pay for it, have them deliver it. Or he might just be able to pick it up after they've bagged it.

Walmart & Target groceries have a pick up at the store option. And they deliver most pre-packaged goods. Any order over $35 is free shipping with either company. Amazon too, does free shipping over $25.

 

[larissawbb]

My son and nephew use the Amex Serve card. It’s a prepaid card that’s free to load and only has a $1.00 a month service fee. The dollar is waived if you add at least 500 a month. You can load it with a check or cash at CVS, Walmart etc....

 

[kimblebee]

If worse comes to worse you can just etransfer him money and he can add it to the debit card himself.

 

[Floridaman999]

I had my kids keep a checking account with the local credit union I use just so it would be easier for me to give them money when needed. They had their debit cards where they were and I could transfer money to their account right from my computer. Worked out like a charm.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

My son and nephew use the Amex Serve card. It’s a prepaid card that’s free to load and only has a $1.00 a month service fee. The dollar is waived if you add at least 500 a month. You can load it with a check or cash at CVS, Walmart etc....

Where can I get one mine is a 10 dollar fee

 

[wenrob]

If worse comes to worse you can just etransfer him money and he can add it to the debit card himself.

I had my kids keep a checking account with the local credit union I use just so it would be easier for me to give them money when needed. They had their debit cards where they were and I could transfer money to their account right from my computer. Worked out like a charm.

Both of these. If he has a banking account there are almost unlimited ways to transfer money electronically with no or limited fees. My account is linked to my DDs so if I need to give her money I can just transfer it. These days I either Venmo or Apple Pay Cash it to her.

 

[larissawbb]

Where can I get one mine is a 10 dollar fee

Serve dot com, or google serve pre paid Amex . Get the free blue one. They will mail you a permanent card then you can load for free at CVS, Rite Aid , Dollar Store and Walmart. You can even load for free from your checking account.

 

[bellebud]

OP here... thanks for the replies. He's my foster son, 21yo, in Job Corps in Utah. He doesn't have a bank account or anything like that. He got a NetSpend card, and it seems he has to actually go to a place to put money on it, or I have to have a NetSpend card too to transfer from mine to his. I want to be able to electronically transfer money from my bank account (or paypal) to his card, without him having to go somewhere. Apple Pay may work for us... not sure though. Can he just use Apple Pay from his phone to pay for things? Like Uber Eats? Or when he goes to Walmart?

 

[CrankyDad]

Your son is 21. Think he can get money on his own. He is adult.

 

[Sabeking]

Your son is 21. Think he can get money on his own. He is adult.

Is that why you are “CrankyDad”, kids aren’t getting any money from you.

 

[Imzadi]

Your son is 21. Think he can get money on his own. He is adult.

Hmm. . . I must have missed the section where the OP asked for judgements or advice on whether she should send her foster son money.

 

[bellebud]

Your son is 21. Think he can get money on his own. He is adult.

OP here... CrankyDad, I get where you're coming from, there are many other people who say things like this to me, I'm used to it. (although, none of those people are foster parents). I might have become one of those people too, if it weren't for taking in my son 4 years ago and learning about early childhood trauma and the lifetime ramifications. So I'm not judging you for your statement. It's easy to not know, unless you've been a foster parent or in that universe in some way.

His age is 21, but the trauma he suffered his entire life until I got him when he was 17 stunted his emotional growth, so while I understand he's technically an 'adult', he's also still needs a lot of parenting, something he didn't have until he was 17.

Thank you to the rest of you for your help