Review of Vanilla One Visa: Perfect Option for Kids’ Holiday Budgets!

My daughter is nine years old.  She loves to shop (she takes after her mom).  We have talked to her about her budget for gifts, so she learns that the holiday is not about purchasing the biggest or best gift, but simply remembering those about whom she cares.   When she shops online, she has no alternative but to use Mom or Dad’s debit card, which means we see where she has shopped and what she spent (and sometimes learn what she even bought).

Now that she is old enough, she wants to be able to shop “alone.” My husband and I were contacted by OneVanilla and that is when it hit us — GIFT CARD!  This is the perfect answer to our holiday shopping!!!  This is why this card was such a great option for us:

1. Load the card with the amount that your child has to spend.  There is no way they can spend more than allotted.  This helps teach them about setting and sticking to a budget, because when the money is gone – you are done spending!
2. If the card is lost, it can be frozen and a new one issued.  Let’s face it.  Kids are kids.  Mine lose shoes at home all of the time, so knowing that I don’t have to worry about them losing cash is a bit reassuring.  If it is lost or stolen, the card can be frozen and a new one issued with the remaining balance issued on it.
3. Safety when shopping online.  Online safety is important.  When she uses this card, her personal information (and our debit card) is not shared.  That way, if someone happens to steal the number, they will only steal the amount on the card and no more.  This lessens our potential risk (and that of our bank as well).
4. Instills responsibility and independence.  By using this card, our daughter has been able to shop online.  I make sure that she is entering the mailing and payment information correctly, but she has the option to spend it on what she wants.  She doesn’t have to even ask our permission.  She is responsible for making sure the amounts she has to spend covers all of the gifts she needs.  She’s really learned so much about being responsible with her money.

The OneVanilla card isn’t just for kids, it can be for you too.  Really, reasons 1 – 3 are all why you might want to use a prepaid card when shopping online.   As an adult, we know that we can also easily overspend when using credit or debit, but if you have a gift card with a set amount on it, you can’t overspend.  Not only that – there is no fear of the mailbox come January.  It is like spending cash, but using plastic.

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Another idea is to use these when traveling.  You can still “use cash” at the pump, for your meals and everything else, without worry.  You won’t overspend and if you lose it, you can get a new one right away!

You can load any amount betweeen $20 – $500 onto your OneVanilla Card.  It can then be used anywhere Visa is accepted.  You can learn more by visiting OneVanilla.

FTC Disclosure:  I received a OneVanilla card for this post.  The opinions are my own and were not influenced by any parties.