Parent to Parent: Teen debit cards

Cash or credit? For this teen it's all about the plastic.

Becca Kreitman, card user
"Now I hardly ever carry any cash."

But it's not a credit card- it's a pre-paid debit card designed specifically for teens.

Creator David Jones says he rarely carried cash, but had to pay his kid's allowances.

David Jones, PayJr.com
"So I was trying to find an electronic means to pay my kids."

When chores get done, money goes into their account.

Becca Kreitman, card user
"I just go online and I say, yes I've done that chore, and my parents get an email saying, 'Is this true? Did she do her chore? Can we transfer money that she earned from doing that chore into her account?'"

The card gives some parents peace of mind.

David Jones, PayJr.com
"The parent does have access and control over the account so they can see where the teenager is spending their money, what their balance is, they can even set limits."

And keeps Becca's spending in check.

Becca Kreitman, card user
"I get a text message every morning at 8:30am and it tells me what my balance is."

Todd Mark, credit expert
"This is easy to teach them how to use credit, again if it's simply about passing money onto the kids, there are cheaper ways to do it."

The card costs $10 to start and is about $4 a month to maintain. You're also charged 50 cents every time you put money into the account.

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