Can my child use my credit card? Here’s what you need to know

Many of us have given our kids a credit card to use in a store, or saved them on their devices to use “just this one time.” It might seem harmless (and convenient!) in the moment. But behind that quick swipe or saved number, there are some real risks.

Here’s what to know about credit card rules, what could go wrong, and how to give your child spending power without putting your credit on the line.

Can kids legally use a parent’s credit card?

Not really. Unless your child is officially listed as an authorized user, they’re not supposed to use your credit card, even if you say it’s okay.

Kids under 18 can’t open their own credit card accounts. But some banks let you add a child (sometimes as young as 13) as an authorized user on your card. They may get a card in their name, but it’s linked to your account. Anything they spend shows up on your bill.

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What if they’re not an authorized user and you still let them use your card? Technically, that violates most card agreements. Even if you “approved” the purchase, your bank might still treat it as unauthorized use, which can impact your fraud protection and leave you liable for the charges.

Potential risks of sharing your credit card with your child

You can have the most trustworthy kids in the world, but if they don’t understand how credit works, even small slips can lead to bigger problems. 

Here are a few potential risks to watch out for:

• Accidental overspending. It’s easy for kids to treat your credit card like unlimited money, especially with in-app purchases and one-click checkouts.

• Unauthorized charges. If your child isn’t listed as an authorized user, your credit card company could treat their purchases as unauthorized, even if you gave them permission. 

• Loss of protection. In those cases, you might lose access to fraud protection or chargeback rights, which means you could be stuck paying for disputed charges out of pocket.

• Credit consequences. One missed payment can impact your credit score, not your child’s.

• No accountability. When spending your money, kids miss out on learning to budget and make tradeoffs.

What are some safer ways to spend?

The good news is, you don’t have to risk everything to give kids some financial independence. There are better tools designed specifically to help kids practice spending and managing money.

Try a prepaid debit card for kids

Instead of connecting your child to your credit card, consider a prepaid debit card that’s built specifically for families. These cards let you load money ahead of time, so there’s no risk of debt or overdraft, just controlled, parent-approved spending.

Greenlight, the #1 family finance and safety app, offers a debit card for kids and teens packed with features parents love:

• You control how much money is available.

• You get real-time alerts for every purchase.

• You can set category-level limits (such as gas, food, and gaming).

• You can lock or unlock the card.

It’s a safer setup than a shared credit card, and a better learning opportunity, too.

Connect spending to responsibility

Another reason to avoid sharing your personal credit card? Kids don’t feel the impact of spending money they didn’t earn. When you link spending to chores, allowance, or earned money, they begin to understand value, tradeoffs, and savings goals.

Greenlight lets you assign chores and automate allowance, and even let kids divvy up their money into Save, Spend, and Give categories. It’s not just convenient; it’s hands-on budgeting skills they can use for the rest of their lives.

Make it a real-time learning tool

Handing your child a card doesn’t mean they’ll suddenly become money-smart. The best tools teach them why and how to make good decisions. Greenlight’s debit card for kids teaches money responsibility, with parental tools that keep you informed and in control. It’s the best of both worlds: freedom for them, peace of mind for you.

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