Google is integrating pocket money into Wallet, allowing parents to oversee every transaction.

      Kids can now use Google Wallet for spending without needing to borrow their parents' credit card.

      Giving a child their first taste of financial independence often means giving them cash or a credit/debit card. However, Google aims to simplify this process with a digital alternative. Google Wallet is rolling out a new payment feature that includes a parental control option.

      Parents in the US can now set up a specific Wallet balance for children and teenagers under 18, allowing them to spend funds using an eligible Android phone or Wear OS smartwatch at any location that accepts contactless Visa payments, without needing a traditional bank account.

      Parents control the allowance

      The balance is overseen through Google Family Link or the Google Wallet website. This allows parents to add money and set guidelines, such as a daily spending cap. Additional controls include options to temporarily lock or unlock the balance and view recent transaction history.

      Once the child reaches the set limit, any further purchases will be declined until the next day, unless a parent adjusts or removes the limit. Parents can also receive notifications when their child makes a purchase and check transaction history via Family Link. If a phone or smartwatch gets lost, the balance can be locked or removed from that specific device without needing to close the whole account.

      Google has a $4,000 limit on the balance, and parents can add a maximum of $2,000 within any seven-day period. Transfers into the balance cannot be individually undone. To recover excess funds, the family manager must close the balance and get a refund of the remaining amount.

      This method offers more control than using a traditional card

      Previously, Google Wallet allowed parents to add a supported payment card to a supervised child’s account. However, with Family Link, they can track transactions and remove the card without set spending limits, as those depended on the card issuer.

      The new balance feature offers Google direct oversight of daily spending limits, separating children's spending from the parent’s main bank account. This can help curb impulsive purchases, particularly in digital marketplaces (like in-game buying). Additionally, parents do not have to approve each transaction individually before it occurs.

      In practice, this arrangement provides children with more independence in their spending choices while giving parents sufficient control to impose a spending freeze if purchases become excessive.

      

      Vikhyaat Vivek is a tech journalist and reviewer with seven years of experience focused on consumer hardware...

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