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A monthly food budget for a teen

The Davids give their teen a monthly food budget as gift cards, with limits, categories and cash back built in.

Family budgeting · Toronto, Canada · Bidali One, Mobile app

Names and details are representative of how Bidali is used.

A young shopper browsing a grocery store aisle

At a glance

Monthly food budget
C$200
Spending categories they pick
Food only
On every gift card
Cash back

Challenge

Brittney is sixteen and eats out more than her parents would like. Cash goes missing and a shared card means checking statements. The Davids wanted to give her real independence without handing her an open-ended card.

They also wanted the money to go to food, not to whatever else caught her eye that week.

Solution

Each month they buy Brittney a set of food gift cards for the places she actually eats: a grocery store, a bakery and a couple of restaurants. They set the monthly limit and the categories once.

Brittney picks where to spend within those limits and sees what is left. The cash back on the family’s gift card purchases goes toward the next month’s budget.

Outcome

Brittney plans her week instead of spending it all by the second Friday. Her parents stop chasing receipts, because the limits do the work.

Nobody has had the conversation about money in the car since. The Davids call that a win.

“She gets to choose, we get to set the edges, and nobody has to check a statement.”

The David family, Toronto

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Frequently asked questions

Yes. Choose the brands and categories, such as groceries and restaurants, and set a monthly amount. Anything outside them is simply not available to spend.

Cash back applies to eligible gift card purchases. You will see the amount on each card before you buy.

Set a budget your teen can spend

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