When your kid starts needing money for everything

If you have a bigger kid, you know.

Money goes from “cute” to constant overnight.

Field trips.
Sports.
School lunches.
Hanging with friends.

And the classic: “I need $20 for ___” (always as you’re pulling out of the driveway). 😅

And if you’re trying to teach independence without handing them your credit card… I want to put Greenlight on your radar.

Not because every family needs it.

But because for the right family, it makes the whole “money stage” feel way less stressful.

The problem (that nobody warns you about)

Cash disappears.

Venmo is messy.

And a normal bank app is not exactly built for “teach a teen while keeping boundaries.”

Most moms I know end up doing some version of:

• “Text me what you need.”

• “Don’t forget to pay me back.”

• “Wait where did that charge come from?”

That gets old.

What Greenlight actually is

It’s a debit card + app for kids/teens that you control from your phone.

So they get to practice with real money…

…and you still have guardrails.

Also it’s debit, not credit, so you’re not messing with debt.

Why moms love it (and why I keep hearing about it)

This is honestly the #1 tool moms tell me they loved using with their tweens and teens.

Because you can:

Set limits + get alerts.
So if they spend, you see it. If something looks off, you can catch it early.

Automate allowance + chores.
Less “did I pay you?” and more consistency.

Savings goals are built in.
So “I’m saving for shoes” becomes a real thing they can see.

If your teen works, direct deposit is a nice upgrade.
Because then it actually feels like their money system.

The feature I’m most excited about

When they’re ready, Greenlight can also introduce investing with your approval.

So instead of “investing” being this scary adult thing…

It becomes a simple lesson:
money can grow when you leave it alone.

Way easier than a lecture.

If you want to check it out

Here’s the page. Just click Parent or guardian to get started. 👇