I need advice on choice of a student type card for an extended family member

[Jerry675]

I hope this is in the correct forum.  I need a card of somekind that I can load from a deposit checking account or credit card.  This is for one of my wife's near-do-well cousins that just always needs financial help.  It seems every family has one of these.  We live 30 miles away so when the call comes in that he needs to purchase gasoline to get to work my choice is drive 50 miles to give him 20 bucks or let him get fired for no show.  He is a 53 year old man-child.  In High school he was the star athelete so all that was required was to catch a ball, hit a ball, and throw a ball.  During college years he was only expected to do the same.  After school he had a short pro career until an injury cut the career short.  He is doing what he has always done and go to family for help.  His Mom passed a few years back so now were it.

I need a card that I can give him that he can spend what I authorize only.  I would be surprised if his FICO is over 600.  I think it would be more convienient for me to transfer 20 bucks to a card rather than spend an hour and a half driving it to him.  I do not want to give him a card where he can access the complete credit line so a typical authorized user of a Visa or MC is out of the question.  My FICO is 800+.  Any suggestions would be appreiated.

[Red1Blue]

I think you are looking for a debit card. there are lot of cards that can do what you are looking for.

[GrainFan]

Apple Card can be shared relatively easily with family members, if you use iOS. It is an authorized user on an MC, but uou can turn on/off whenever from your phone, and set max transaction limits.

[pizzadude]

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@Jerry675 wrote:

I hope this is in the correct forum.  I need a card of somekind that I can load from a deposit checking account or credit card.  This is for one of my wife's near-do-well cousins that just always needs financial help.  It seems every family has one of these.  We live 30 miles away so when the call comes in that he needs to purchase gasoline to get to work my choice is drive 50 miles to give him 20 bucks or let him get fired for no show.  He is a 53 year old man-child.  In High school he was the star athelete so all that was required was to catch a ball, hit a ball, and throw a ball.  During college years he was only expected to do the same.  After school he had a short pro career until an injury cut the career short.  He is doing what he has always done and go to family for help.  His Mom passed a few years back so now were it.

I need a card that I can give him that he can spend what I authorize only.  I would be surprised if his FICO is over 600.  I think it would be more convienient for me to transfer 20 bucks to a card rather than spend an hour and a half driving it to him.  I do not want to give him a card where he can access the complete credit line so a typical authorized user of a Visa or MC is out of the question.  My FICO is 800+.  Any suggestions would be appreiated.

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I appreciate that this is a difficult situation, but I would think twice before putting yourself in a postion where you're going to be linking your own credit line or accounts to someone who may not have a functional understanding of money and credit.   Do you want to be hit up everytime this person tries to buy gas / food / etc.. and is over their limit, etc.. ?

I agree that driving an hour or more roundtrip to drop off gas money is inconvenient and time consuming but I think that needs to be part of the process unless you're willing to sign yourself up in the parent role to manage this person's spending.

I get that someone may occasionally need help, but you'll probably end up on the hook to subsidize this person monthly, if you aren't already.

[Red1Blue]

You might want to open a separate checking account on his name and get him a debit card. Every time he needs funds you can send it by Zelle and he will have the funds in his acount seconds. This is probably the best way to handle this. He can not spend more than what he has in his account and you control how much money you want to keep in his account. Check out sites like Oxygen, Chime, Sofi, One. There are several online banks free of monthly fees and provide debit card and many features. Check them out.

[blindambition]

The easiest and safest option for you would be using Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle. Have account for each of you, and money transfer is instant.

Youre not managing an account, traveling, and he has NO access to YOUR money. Only what you choose to send.

[Jerry675]

If we can keep him employed it's only calls for gasoline every few weeks.  With no job we get calls for food, gasoline, doctor, telephone, utility bills, property taxes just as if he is a dedpendant child. 

[pizzadude]

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@Jerry675 wrote:

If we can keep him employed it's only calls for gasoline every few weeks.  With no job we get calls for food, gasoline, doctor, telephone, utility bills, property taxes just as if he is a dedpendant child. 

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Sounds like you're talking about a significant amount of money at times, property taxes alone are probably thousands -- are you always paying these directly or just giving cash to cover expenses?  

Does he have any banking relationship presently, or any kind of open accounts?

[Kforce]

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@Red1Blue wrote:

You might want to open a separate checking account on his name and get him a debit card. Every time he needs funds you can send it by Zelle and he will have the funds in his acount seconds. This is probably the best way to handle this. He can not spend more than what he has in his account and you control how much money you want to keep in his account. Check out sites like Oxygen, Chime, Sofi, One. There are several online banks free of monthly fees and provide debit card and many features. Check them out.

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+100

[Jerry675]

I'll check these out.  Thanks