BusyKid is a finance app in the US that helps teens and kids manage weekly allowances or other money given to them for chores or otherwise. The app functions as a financial literacy tool to help any child (5+) build good financial habits. BusyKid is ideal for busy parents who feel like a personal ATM or are concerned at the lack of financial education given through the US education system. BusyKid is an excellent provider of hands-on experience in managing real money.
BusyKid Review: Key Takeaways
- The BusyKid Visa Prepaid Spend Card allows children to make purchases online or in-person. The card can also be made virtual in device wallets.
- Parents control of the amount of money loaded onto the cards and can follow real-time activity in app.
- BusyKid allows your child to have a savings account and donate to more than 50 charities.
Contents
How BusyKid Works
The BusyKid app is simple and straightforward. The first step to using the app successfully is getting money into the child account. Parents can choose to have their kids do chores or provide them a pre-set weekly allowance. Parents can also pay a bonus to any teen or child for going above and beyond at home or school during the week. Other family and friends can use BusyPay (exclusive to BusyKid) to add money for holidays, birthdays or supporting a kid-run business.
To sign up for a BusyKid account, you need to provide some basic details on the BusyKid website and then download the BusyKid app into your smartphone. You must link your checking account or debit/credit card to use as the funding source for the allowance or bonus. The app experience is much better if it’s downloaded to your kid’s device as well.
BusyKid Features
BusyKid comes with a wide range of features to help teach your child the importance of saving, spending, investing, and sharing. The features include:
Chores and Allowance
You can choose to create an auto-allowance, allowing your child to be paid on a regular schedule (every Friday or twice a month) without any chore requirements. Alternatively, you can base the allowance your child receives on the tasks or chores they complete in a week. If you select the latter, you can create allowance amounts for the chores. Every chore that your child will mark as ‘Done’ since the previous Friday will be included in the payday, which you have to approve.
Saving
A percentage of your child’s weekly allowance goes into savings. You can add “interest” to the savings each week.
Charities
BusyKid allows kids to learn the importance of giving back by donating a percentage of their allowance to one of nearly 50 local and national charities. Some charities listed include the Agrarian Trust, the American Respiratory Care Foundation, the Arizona Diabetes Foundation, Kids Dreams Matter, the CE Shop Foundation, Safe Families for Children, and more.
Spend
The The BusyKid Visa Prepaid Spend Card allows your child to spend anywhere Visa is accepted (online or in-store). The BusyKid debit card can be added to Apple/Google Pay. The BusyKid Visa Prepaid Spend Card has an embedded EMV chip that provides advanced card security for safer transactions. The BusyKid card can also be locked temporarily if misplaced. Parents get instant notifications with each card use.
How to Order a BusyKid Spend Card
You can order a spend card during or after enrollment. From the parent dashboard, press the BusyKid debit card image of your choice. You can select from different designs and the colors white or black. When ordering, be keen to only check the box for the child(ren) you wish to get cards. After placing your order, your card will arrive in about 7-10 business days.
BusyPay
BusyPay gives an easy way for grandparents, friends, or neighbors to add money instantly to your child’s BusyKid account. You simply share the QR code, the person sending the money scans the code and money rolls in instantly.
Parent Approvals
While BusyKid allows children to make financial decisions, a parent must approve money moving outside BusyKid for donations, cash, or shopping on a BusyKid Spend Card. You can choose to lock the Save, Share, and Spend categories to prevent your child from overspending.
BusyKid is concerned about your satisfaction. If for any reason you are not satisfied with this service in the first 30 days, BusyKid will give your money back. No questions asked.
How to Follow Activities Inside the BusyKid System
You and your child(ren) can follow every activity that goes on inside the BusyKid system — such as chores, allowances, donations to charities, money transfers, when and where a BusyKid Visa Prepaid Spend Card is used. You can do this from the activity feed in the BusyKid app. At the bottom of your dashboard, press “Activity” to view any activity you want. If you want to view all financial transactions, press the “Stack” icon. To see all completed chores and review the recent payday, press “$”.
How to Approve Payday on BusyKid
The standard Payday on BusyKid is each Friday. When a child completes a chore, he/she marks it as “Done”. Chores marked “Done” since the previous Friday are included in the payday. On payday, you (parent) will receive an email and an in-app notification that Payday needs to be approved. You must respond to the email on a mobile device and once you approve the notification, the allowance moves to the Save, Share, and Spend areas in their respective allocated percentages.
You can also approve a past payday anytime. From the parent dashboard, tap on “Activity” at the bottom of the page and select “$”. Next, tap on “Review Payday” and approve the payday.
BusyKid Subscription Plans
BusyKid offers two subscription options; monthly and annual. With both plans, you get access to the BusyKid app, up to 5 The BusyKid Visa Prepaid Spend Cards (one per child), and nearly 50 charities.
BusyKid Fees and Limits
BusyKid costs $3.99 per month ($38.99 per year) for up to 5 debit cards, allowing you to access all the app’s features.
| BusyKid Fees | |
|---|---|
| Account Opening | Free |
| BusyPay Transactions | $1.00 |
| ATM Fees | $1.50 |
| Spend Card Delivery | Free |
| Card Replacement |
The BusyKid Visa Prepaid Spend Card has average limits as follows:
| Limit | |
|---|---|
| Maximum card balance | $2, 000 |
| Debit card transfer limit per day | $2, 000 |
| Monthly Direct deposits | $2, 000 |
| Daily ATM withdrawal | $810.00 |
| Purchase limit |
Is BusyKid Safe?
Yes. BusyKid leverages bank-level security to ensure that account data and sensitive personal information are safe. BusyKid uses Stripe and Plaid to connect to your credit/debit card or bank account. The BusyKid Visa Prepaid Spend Card is issued by Stride Bank, meaning that funds within the Save, Share, and Spend categories are FDIC insured up to $250, 000. Additionally, if your card is lost or stolen, you have the option to report it in the app. Doing so cancels the old card and orders a duplicate one. If the card is misplaced, you can call (866) 634-3044 to place a 24-hour hold on it. If you do not find the card after 24 hours, it will be cancelled automatically to prevent theft.
BusyKid Reviews
BusyKid has helped many families with money management and financial literacy. The company has received many positive reviews online. Most customers are satisfied with its affordability, reliable customer service, and ease of use. It is rated 3.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.
BusyKid Customer Service
In case of any inquiry, you can get in touch with BusyKid via email at help@busykid.com, through BusyKid chat on their website, or call the team at 833-287-9543. Alternatively, you can find answers to commonly asked questions on their FAQs section on their website. BusyKid’s customer support is available Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 6:00PM.
BusyKid Alternatives
If BusyKid is not the best card for you and your family, you can consider the following alternatives:
Final Thoughts on the BusyKid Review
BusyKid is an affordable service that gives kids and teens the necessary hands-on experience at managing money they won’t receive anyplace else. The solid money routines they will build with the app and card will carry them to adulthood, while the money they earn and manage, will help motivate them to get more.
