We started our daughter out with a pre paid debit card.  The beginning of every month she got her allowance for the month. When it was gone it was gone. No loans from Mom and Dad. Now she's 17 and I think she's so much better off than her friends whose parents just hand out cash whenever the child "needs" it.  She works 16 hours a week, buys her own clothes and other stuff.  We pay her gas, she drives my old mom-mobile (Windstar that is 12 yrs old w/ 180K miles on it) She starts junior college in fall. I'm very proud of her and her understanding that sometimes you have to wait and save up money to buy what she wants.  She just opened a checking account and now has a regular debit card.  I'm not worried. ( Although we did get the overdraft protection just in case LOL)