I still remember the first time I held money in my tiny hands a crisp RM10 note that made me feel like the richest kid in Subang Jaya.
It was my parents’ way of teaching me a little independence, letting me march up to the counter and pay for my own snack.
Fast forward to 2025, and suddenly, school canteens are going cashless?
No more rummaging through my purse for small change in the mornings.
No more sneaking an emergency RM2 into my child’s pocket, just in case.
Instead, they’re strutting off to recess with a tiny debit card dangling from a lanyard like a mini executive grabbing lunch between meetings.
And just like that, we’ve entered the era of cashless canteens.
But the real question is: Are young kids actually ready for digital spending?
Money Without Money: The Digital Dilemma
There’s something oddly comforting about physically handing over cash.
You see it, you feel it, and when it leaves your hand, you know it’s gone.
But with a debit card? Not so much.
One tap and it’s over.
For adults, this is already dangerous (raise your hand if you’ve ever told yourself, ‘It’s just RM8.90’… ten times in a row).
But for kids?
The idea that money is finite does not even exist when all they’re doing is tapping their card.
I mean, does a young child even know that RM10 doesn’t magically appear every time they tap?
Without actual physical cash, it’s much harder for kids to understand what they’re spending and what they have left.
And let’s be real, if we, as adults, struggle with impulse spending (hello, late-night online shopping), how can we expect young children to regulate themselves?
When Small Amounts Adds Up Fast
Let’s talk about the dangers of invisible spending.
One day, they’re buying a RM1 kuih.
The next, they’re feeling fancy and adding an extra iced Milo.
And before you know it, they’re walking out with a full-blown school canteen feast, treating their friends – why not if the card always works, right?
The difference between holding RM5 in coins and having RM20 sitting in a digital account is huge when you’re a kid.
With cash, they physically see their money reducing, which helps them decide what they really want.
But with a card?
Tap, tap, tap and suddenly, they’re broke by Wednesday.
Shima, the Malaysian mummy who sparked this debate online, pointed out that younger kids (Standard 1-3) might not be ready to manage money this way.
And honestly? She has a point.
Children are still learning basic addition and subtraction, let alone the concept of budgeting.
If they don’t feel the loss of money, how will they ever learn to spend wisely?
The Great Parent Hack: Cashless, but With Boundaries
Of course, cashless canteens aren’t all bad.
In fact, they have some serious perks.
For one, parents can track spending in real-time.
No more mystery purchases, no more wondering if lunch money went towards food or a new eraser shaped like a Paw Patrol character.
And, of course, it reduces the risk of kids losing cash or having it stolen.
But like all things, it needs rules and boundaries.
Here’s what we can do:
- Limit the balance: Load a fixed amount per week so kids learn to pace themselves instead of going wild on Day 1.
- Give them a budget plan: If they get RM10 a week, explain how much they should ideally be spending per day.
- Keep the card on a lanyard: Because let’s be honest, kids lose things. A lot.
- Teach them to check their balance: Make them responsible for knowing when they need a top-up.
- Talk about impulse spending: Explain why buying three extra snacks in one day might mean no more money for Friday.
Because at the end of the day, going cashless isn’t the problem; the lack of financial literacy is.
The Future Is Cashless But Let’s Make It Smart
Whether we like it or not, cashless spending is here to stay.
Our kids will grow up in a world where digital payments are the norm.
So, teaching them how to manage it early isn’t just useful, it’s necessary.
But just like how we learned the value of RM5 through saving up, our kids need to learn that a tap of a card isn’t just ‘magic money’.
It’s real and limited – and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
So, if schools want to make canteens cashless, let’s make sure they also make financial education a priority.
Because a child with a debit card but no money sense?
That’s a financial disaster waiting to happen.
What’s Your Take?
So mummies and daddies, would you feel comfortable giving your child a debit card for school spending?
Have you already experienced the joys (or horrors) of a cashless canteen?
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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