NBC Action Communities

Reminds me of candy cigarettes from the 80s. Parents can teach their kids to be responsible with money without actually giving them these cards to use.

This is nothing new, really.  I had these Visa BUXX cards for my kids 10 years ago.  I thought it was a great way for them to figure out budgeting without having cash that can so easily slip through their fingers without knowing where it goes.

When my daughter was a young teen, we constantly battled about clothing purchases.  After we got the Visa Buxx card, I put a set amount into her account each time I received a paycheck.  This allowed her to make the decisions herself about whether to buy several expensive items or more less-expensive items.  She also had to decide whether to save the money for a big spending spree or spend a little at a time.

Then in high school, she spent a year in France as a foreign exchange student.  It was a great way to get money to her when she needed it.

Now, ten years later, she's graduated from college and does not believe in credit cards.