That will be a memorable trip for your daughter. How far from home?

How old is your daughter? I'm guessing high school?
Could you do a prepaid credit card, and/or a gift card to the store where she might be shopping?

Our daughter went overseas and I added her as an additional user to my credit card; however at one point she left her wallet (with credit card and passport) in a store. Fortunately an honest soul found it and immediately contacted her; that could have been a disaster.

However later when she returned to the states, the credit card did get compromised so it put us both in a bind.

If you get a debit card for her account I would limit the amount kept in the account and have no automatic transfer from savings and have log-in privileges so you can monitor the spending and her needs.

First of all,I don't think you can get an ATM in hand by next week.It usually takes 7-10 business days at my bank. I would make a phone call to the camp and ask them how most kids handle the money issue. What kind of stores will she have access to? A prepaid Visa would be ok, except if stolen, they can be used by anyone. Basically, same as cash. Does the camp have the ability to cash a check that you could mail to her when needed? Do they have a safe?

hilltop, thank you for sharing your very similar situation. She'll be across the country--from Oregon where we live to North Carolina (where we used to live, actually, but it's just a coincidence). And yes, she's a rising senior.

Aieee re your story about your DD leaving basically everything in a store. I could *easily* see DD doing that--she's so absent-minded and loses things all the time, refuses to have places for things so she can know where to put them and know where to look for them. (I'm also absent-minded so I completely get it, but I've developed compensatory mechanisms,).

So do you think that the debit card/ATM might be the best idea, with the factors you mention? (log-in, no automatic transfer, etc.) Really appreciate your input--thanks again.

ratherbe, thanks for your reply too--we crossed messages. I'll be making calls today. The need is for basic health/beauty supplies, restaurants when the kids go into town, charges for activities, etc...everything else is taken care of.

I wonder if you could set up an account with the camp to pay for outings (you don't know what these are yet?) and purchases at the camp store? Then give her a prepaid VISA (just like cash) for thing like the restaurants? Or even traveler's checks (replaceable)?

She really is the age when she should start becoming more responsible for her finances though - she'll be going to college in a year? Our son won't be going for 2 more years, but last year went to camp and DH set him up with a prepaid card, but DS is very thrifty and didn't make many purchases, so we let him keep the card and he has bought some video games since, DH has reloaded the card but I haven't looked to see what DS has been buying, let DH handle that.

You might want to consider a prepaid card or secured card now and for the rest of the year, and perhaps move onto a new card with a very low limit on a joint account as she moves on to college.

Here is a link that might be useful: Teens and credit

ajsmama, thanks for your reply. We're not sure which outings, if any, she'll want to go on -- so much is up in the air.

She is responsible with money (not perfect, but better than most teens I've observed--we've trained her to be a skeptical consumer : )) -- the only thing I'm concerned about is her losing anything that could be used like cash because there will be so much stimulation and excitement at the camp that she might just put it down for a second and forget it. So what folks have found to be the safest method is what I'm looking for, I guess.

Ask your bank what they suggest.

What we did, a few years ago, was to go to our bank where we set up a seperate account. We deposited about $500.00, and added our young traveler on it.

I was able to pick up her debit card within a few days (some banks can make a debit card on site). When she was low on funds we were able to transfer more $$$ into it.

ML

Hmmm, personally, I would call the camp and find out what the average amount needed is first.
Then, load a debit card with that amount weekly. It will teach her budgeting firsthand and if she should need more money, she can call you and you can decide.
When I was a teenager, my parents paid for everything and I learned nothing. (I too, was absent minded. I would leave my purse on the back of the restaurant chair all the time) I did eventually learn about the basics of budgeting and managing money, but the lessons were hard and the lessons about Paying attention to my stuff were equally grueling. But it took Consequences, and knowing I had NO back up, to truly learn.

So I would say, be there if she goes to jail, but not if she doesn't have enough money for the latest field trip/whatever (because she blew it all...)

I don't know if you have them by you but 5-3rd bank has reloadable debit cards and you can get a temporary one same day. They have a $2500 limit and can be used as credit card, ATM. They also are FDIC insured so they are safer then most if she happens to lose it. We've done it for our kids and they've worked wonders and you also get a statement so it also keeps them honest ;). Good luck.

I also should say that you don't need a bank account from there.

I think when DD went abroad in HS we used a preloaded visa from AAA. Probably more trouble than you need for a US based stay, but it worked well and we could keep track from home.

Beth

Thank you all for your ideas! This will be as much a part of the learning experience for her as the camp will, I imagine. Thank goodness there's a young man whom she knows from the youth symphony who will be going there too, for the second time, and we've learned that he's unapologetically frugal. Laundromat vs. laundry service, etc. So she can 'follow' him and not feel like she's the only one who doesn't have parents who are 'wealthy' or 'generous' enough.

We were actually able to find a 'teen' account at a local credit union we've wanted to begin a relationship with for a while, but just haven't. After DD took a quick tutorial and had to score 100 on a test about basic banking and personal finance issues (love the credit union if only for that feature!), a person there very expertly walked us through establishing both a savings and a checking account. The checking comes with a debit card that is also a VISA if you use it that way, and you are protected against fraud if any fraudulent charges appear (that didn't involve your PIN). Best of both worlds. Never thought it would be that easy--now she just has to not lose the card (although she'll be safe as long as the PIN isn't with it, which it won't be.)

I swear, g'web home decor conversations is the Place To Be. I'll keep all those ideas in mind, including yours, Beth, a preloaded AAA Visa--who knew! Really helpful. Thanks so much!

I wouldn't deposit the entire summer's spending money at once, as it could be drained before your daughter even realizes the card is missing.

All our kids had a personal checking account from about age 14. I was on each account and could electronically transfer money into any account as needed for emergency purposes, and the allowance was deposited by a scheduled transfer every Friday. That way not too much money is at risk each week. ( I could also track their spending and have meaningful talks with them, lol.)

Although the two older kids are independent and have other bank accounts without me, we still maintain those initial accounts as they have come in handy when an emergency arises, lost card for other account, etc. It just makes me feel better to know they won't ever be stranded or in need.

Here is a tip that your daughter and others may find helpful.

We all know not to write down PIN numbers, etc on the card. So how to keep them to remember them?

I enter a contact in my phone, and enter a fake phone number that has my home phone first three numbers, and then then 4 digit PIN as the second four numbers. I can search for that contact (can be the institution name, or a fake name that you will remember) If you need to look up the number it easy, but if you would loose your phone and card it would be unlikely that someone else would figure this out.

juliecmo that is really a great idea! One thing I do to remember my PIN is to create a word with the numbers, with the keypad's corresponding letters. I find it easier to remember a word than unrelated numbers. If the issued PIN doesn't easily translate to a word, I just change have the PIN changed to one that does.

These are all great suggestions--thank you so much for your wisdom. I'm feeling miles better about it because of your help.

I would say, be there if she goes to jail, but not if she doesn't have enough money for the latest field trip/whatever (because she blew it all...)

Are you MY mom?

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Yes, have HER check with the camp and plan what field trips and activities she wants to do, add enough for the OMGWINTONMARSALIS event

... and ask her to calculate what she needs.

Then get a pre-paid debit card from your bank and hand it over.

I enter a contact in my phone, and enter a fake phone number that has my home phone first three numbers, and then then 4 digit PIN as the second four numbers.

Me too! Mine was "Mark DiNero" (dinero = money in Spanish).

I am very bad with numbers but I was quick to adapt to an ATM card and PIN number as soon as they came out. When I got married, 21 years ago, we combined accounts and my husband, knowing I was bad with numbers assigned the same PIN number to our joint account. Except it isn't the same number, it's one off. He claims he submitted the right number and the bank got it wrong or I told him the wrong number. There is no way I told him the wrong number, but we kept it the new PIN. To this day I still think # # # wrong#. 21 years later.