While I'm visiting, my 15 year old will have some time for exploring on his own. If I buy him a Visa gift card, can he use that for his spending money? I don't want to give him a card to my account!!
Posted by
martinez, ca, usa
2404 posts
Is that card bought in USA? Read the fine print on back, I don’t think you can.
Aloha
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
If you want to have "issues" then by all means invest in a "gift card". Exactly how much money does a 15 year old need while exploring Venice?? Just give him some Euros, and let him spend it until it's gone.
Posted by
Midwest
2768 posts
No, those gift cards come with high fees and many won’t work.
Give him cash or set up a separate bank account with a real debit card and a limited amount in it. Check international fees first.
On his own I imagine him buying food from a stand/shop, maybe an admission fee or a small souvenir. Give him what you think is reasonable to spend and add 20euros for a cab or other “emergency”. The 20 goes back to you if no emergency - he can’t spend it on gelato -and the rest is his to spend.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Thanks, we will be in Sweden, not Venice, not that that is important. I plan to buy him a travel card so mostly he will want money for snacks and souvenirs. Sweden tried to be a cashless society, that's why the card. I will head to my bank tomorrow to see what they advise. An account that I can transfer money into seems to make the most sense.
Posted by
Maryland, USA
533 posts
While it's true that credit cards are widely used in Sweden, even for small purchases, it's hardly "cashless" - you can pay in cash at most places if you really want to. If it's just a matter of a day's spending money for snacks and souvenirs, it shouldn't be a problem for him to carry that in cash.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
748 posts
maybe rethink getting him a credit card attached to your account. You may be able to set a dollar amount on it. I would want my wandering around 15 year old to have a source of real money in case of an emergency. Also, you will be surprised at how handy it will be back in states- you can always take it back from him.
Posted by
Ohio
1601 posts
I would also give my son a credit card so that he would have access to more money in case of emergency. He would be trustworthy not to overspend and to be careful about not losing it. And please don't give him euros, he won't be able to use those in Sweden.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Thank you everybody. TD Bank let me open an account just for the money that I will allow to be spent for the vacation. I set it up so that it can't be over spent and I can transfer more money into it as I like while we're there for no additional fees.
Posted by
18 posts
Open an account just only for the money he will be spending on his vacation.