Cash App for Kids: How To Use It with Minors Under 18

It’s never too early to start teaching your kids about money – its importance, how to save it, and how to responsibly spend it. Cash App recently incorporated brand new features for minors, making it possible for parents to teach their children these exact lessons.

While kids do need to learn responsibility, it’s still important for parents to monitor their children’s spending habits until they are old enough to handle their finances independently. Cash App will give you peace of mind in this regard, thanks to the adult supervision tools that are included in the app.

Guide your children through their understanding of finances by giving them an allowance, allowing them to learn independence and spend the money as they choose.

If you or your child are new to Cash App, sign up for free and receive a cash bonus using a Cash App free money code. Cash App is not just for spending, but also about finding ways to make your money work for you and your future.

How to Use Cash App Under 18

Minors cannot have their own independent Cash App accounts. While the main account holder must be at least 18 years of age, the new Cash App authorized user account can be utilized by minors with permission from a parent or guardian. This is the only legal method for teenagers under 18 to use Cash App.

Step 1: Download Cash App

A parent or guardian must download and set up Cash App on a phone, tablet, or laptop.

New Cash App users can enter a Cash App referral code to receive a cash bonus.

Related: How to Do Taxes with Cash App

Step 2: Connect a Bank Account

You can use Cash App without connecting a bank account, but doing so will limit the app’s functionality. The recommended method of linking your account is by entering your debit card information. You need to do this only once, and you can remove your card off the app at any time.

Step 3: Have Your Child(ren) Download the App

Minors can download Cash App here and request approval from a parent or guardian through the app. New members will receive a cash bonus for using code NMXPRV7. To activate the bonus, send at least $5 to and from the new account. You could even bounce the same money amongst all family members until everyone receives a cash bonus.

Step 4: Have Your Child Design and Order a Free Cash Card

The Cash App Card for kids works like a prepaid debit card, but parents have the ability to track all transactions through their accounts. Each child can design a unique Cash App Card for free, and the order will soon arrive in the mail.

Have your child enter the code NMXPRV7 when using a Cash App Card for the first time, and his or her account will be credited with $5 bonus cash.

The following Cash App for Minors review will detail more features available with this new option.

Related: How to Make Money as a 13 Year Old

What is Cash App for Minors and How Does It Work?

The already popular Cash App recently rolled out its free “for kids” feature, which is available within the United States to minors aged 13 to 17. The app developers value the importance of parental involvement, so they require authorized users to approve any request made by a minor seeking to create a Cash App account.

As soon as a parent or guardian has approved that request, he or she can load the Cash Card with money and track all activity on the account through the Cash App statements. That parent or guardian can also contact Cash App support at any time to close or pause the account.

Safety Measures

Cash App has implemented several safety measures for minors, including the features they can access, how much money they can transfer within a certain time frame, and how much control parents and guardians have.

Ensure the safety of a minor’s account by selecting a PIN, turning on notifications, and setting limitations on money requests to “contacts only.”

Send/Receive Money From Friends and Family

Your teen can send and receive up to $1,000 every 30 days. This limit ensures  that no overspending occurs while children learn to budget. Parents and guardians can impose their own spending limits through the app if they want to further limit the amount kids can send and receive.

Related: Things for Kids to Sell at School

Cash Card and ATM Withdrawals

Teens can use their Cash Cards to withdraw money from any ATM for a $2 fee. The app will reimburse ATM fees incurred by users who receive monthly direct deposits of at least $300 to their accounts.

Cash App for Kids Features

Cash App allows users to personalize their accounts, and the program’s family features make using their accounts even more exciting for kids.

Choose a Unique $Cashtag

One of the most fun parts of creating a Cash App account is coming up with a unique $Cashtag, which is a username that can be shared with others. Your teens can create a fun, silly, or creative Cash App name to share with their friends and family members who want to send them money.

Design a Custom Card

Designing a custom card is where the real fun begins. Your teen can draw or stamp a design onto their black, white, or glow-in-the-dark card. Help your children come up with fun designs that fit their own unique personalities, or show them some inspiration from others on designing a Cash Card.

Use Instant Cash Boosts

Choose from the list of available instant cash boosts on Cash App to apply to your card. You will receive instant cash savings as soon as you use the card to make a purchase.

Cash App Boosts are similar to cashback opportunities, except you won’t have to wait a day or more for the money to be applied back into your account. The rewards are instant. Cash App Boosts are a great way to get paid to shop, whether it’s at a favorite coffee shop, grabbing fast food, or completing your weekly snack/grocery run.

Banking Options

Instead of opening a whole new account at a traditional bank, teens can use their Cash App access just like a bank. Transfer money into their accounts to keep funds available. The Cash Card makes it even more convenient to have a Cash App account, without the added hassle of a separate bank account.

Refer Friends for Free Money

Thanks to Cash App’s referral bonus, teens can make up to $15 per friend they invite to the app. Show them how to get paid to refer friends and give them a taste of how it feels to make their own money. Once the cash hits their accounts, they can then decide if they’d rather spend it or save it.

Related: Best Cash App Surveys for Money

More Reasons to Use Cash App for Teenagers

Here are some additional reasons to help your children choose Cash App for kids.

Easily Pay Allowance

Send money to your minor through Cash App at any point, making it easy to set up a weekly allowance and help them learn how to control their funds. They can spend the money however they want, or just save it – and you can monitor those choices. Instead of driving to the bank to withdraw cash for their allowance, just send them the money through Cash App.

Teach Money Management

Kids need to learn early on that money doesn’t grow on trees. If they want to make a purchase, they need to first determine how much money they have and what future plans might require them to save it instead. They will need to decide if purchasing a new shirt today is worth it, or if they should save that money for summer camp.

Direct Deposit Wages

If any of your children have a job, show them how to get their paychecks direct deposited to their Cash App accounts and avoid needing to make a bank run to cash out or deposit their earnings. If the funds are already in their Cash App account, they can spend their money as they please (with your permission, of course) without having to make that additional bank transfer.

Related: Places That Hire at 15

Cash App Features Not Available to Minors

Minors younger than 18 will not have the ability to:

• Invest in Bitcoin or stocks
• Borrow funds from Cash App
• Make international payments
• Deposit paper checks

Related: Best Cash App Alternatives

More Questions Parents Are Asking About Cash App for Teens

Check out these answers to commonly asked questions other parents have posed about allowing children to use Cash App.

How old do you have to be to have Cash App?

Cash App account holders must be at least 18 years old. Cash App for kids is available to 13- to 17-year-olds who are authorized users on an adult’s account.

What happens if you lie about your age on Cash App?

All Cash App users must be able to verify their identities – and therefore their ages – before opening an account. Anyone who cannot verify his or her age and identity will be treated as a minor, and will incur account limitations such as weekly transfer limits.

Is there a better Cash App alternative for minors?

Greenlight is a kids’ debit card that parents can reload and monitor. It can be used for purchases anywhere MasterCard is accepted. This offering is available to minors of all ages.

Children will earn 1 percent cash back on all purchases made with their Greenlight cards. The program offers additional perks that give families up to 2 percent interest on their savings balances. Parents have a lot of control with Greenlight, and can set spending limits and receive immediate notifications whenever the card is used.

Join Greenlight (for Kids)

Related: Greenlight Review

Cash App for Minors Gives Control to Both the Minor and the Parent

Parents are constantly trying to find ways to teach and safeguard their kids, but that isn’t an easy task in today’s world. Many of us default to taking control rather than relinquishing the power to our children, in an attempt to make sure they’re always protected.

Before activating a Cash App for minors, talk with your children about the importance of money and how to avoid fraud and scams when using Cash App. Then hand over the reins and allow them to have some control over their lives.

Cash App has taken steps to keep minor accounts safe and convenient. As you consider all of the options available for your child’s finances, consider giving this app a try to see if it could work for you and your family. Cash App hasn’t let me down, and I’m sure any other parent out there will also find value in it as they seek to teach their children more responsibility.

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