I can see the amounts she's spending. I don't say that because I mistrust her, but she's new to handling money. I can keep a closer eye on it. A card with parent strings For students who need a higher amount of supervision, a new option on the market is the PocketCard , a Visa debit card that allow parents to closely monitor via the Web or by phone. PocketCard works somewhat like a prepaid phone card that can be reloaded with more time.
Parents load money onto the card from their own checking account.
The transfer, either on the Web site or by phone, is immediate, and parents can turn the card on or off, controlling when it's used. Every time it's used, the parent is sent an e-mail instantly. Bankrate Inc. All rights reserved.