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Are Schools Teaching Kids to Buy on Credit at a Young Age? |
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by: Debbie Dragon
Around the country, many schools have begun cashless purchasing processes in the cafeteria. There are a variety of methods used to keep track of the purchases, from student ID cards that operate like a debit card to fingerprint systems to simply giving the cashier your name or student number to have your purchase deducted from the account.
Just as retailers around the world having to accommodate the preference of consumers to swipe their cards rather than pay using cash - and accept credit or debit cards for everything from a pack of gum to McDonald's cheeseburgers, our school systems are following suit and an increasing number are using credit card-like systems to pay for lunches.
All of the methods of buying lunch without cash may be giving students mixed messages regarding making purchases, though. When the child doesn't physically hand over $1.75 or whatever the price of their lunch is, do they understand that they are still in fact paying for it, when they swipe their ID card or scan their fingerprint? It most likely depends on the age of the child, but there are some concerns that giving a child an ID card or alternative method for paying for their lunch reinforces the idea of using credit to buy - “buy now, pay later” - regardless if the parents have deposited money onto the ID card or lunch account for their student, it's not what the student experiences when they go through the line to pick up their lunch. Is it possible that cashless lunch systems at schools will continue to send positive messages about buying on credit?
Some people would say that's an invalid concern, or one that doesn't require much thought. But as the nation continues to struggle with people spending more than they can afford using credit, it's worth considering how moving away from a cash based lunch system for our young people might affect their attitudes regarding spending as they get older.
It's easy to understand the benefits of these cashless lunch systems. First of all, for children who come from lower income families and receive a reduced lunch or free lunch program – using alternative methods to pay for lunch ensures it's a private matter. The other students in line will not know whether the child paid a quarter or two dollars for their lunch if it's a swipe of a card, giving an ID number or scanning a fingerprint to pay for the meal.
Secondly, paying with these alternative methods reduces the possibility that a child will lose his or her lunch money on the way to school, spend it on snacks instead of lunch, or get it stolen by another child – but that's only if the system allows parents to deposit money to the account online. In some school districts, parents have to send a check to school with their children for it to be deposited to the child's lunch account. The checks can still be lost on the way to school, but at least it would reduce the possibility of someone else taking it and using it.
Another benefit of cashless lunch systems include giving parents the ability to see what their youngster is eating for lunch. Many of the new school lunch payment systems allow parents to log in and deposit money into their lunch accounts, and even view what the students are purchasing. Did Junior eat a healthy lunch at school today, or did he buy cookies, a bag of chips and a Nutty Buddy?
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Credit Card Articles > Student Credit Cards > Are Schools Teaching Kids to Buy on Credit at a Young Age?
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