Hellobee Boards

If you are comfortable with it, why not? When I was a nanny they just gave me extra cash if they wanted me to run errands, or I would save receipts and they would reimburse me.

I think I would be more comfortable with a prepaid card

We use a petty cash envelope for small purchases. But our nanny spends maybe $150/year, max.

There are cards where you can set a limit. I would probably do that on a card that I don't use as much so it's easy to track the transactions.

I don't like reloadable prepaid cards because they can get lost and the money would then be gone.

We have friends that have a nanny for their three kids, she also does all the grocery shopping and various other errands. They gave her a credit card just ask that she keeps all her receipts. They provide her with a car too and she uses the card for gas as well.

I would go ahead and get a separate card for her versus giving her your card. You should be able to set the limit low and easily shut the card down if something comes up.

I had one as a nanny and it worked out well for us. I do know that another family I worked for did this with a nanny and she would apparently pad purchases for the family with purchases for herself. I would ask for receipts just so she's never tempted to throw her own Target purchases on your bill.

I'd probably do a pre loaded debit card, or even gift cards to specific stores (ie Target, your grocery store, etc.), and then an envelope of cash for incidentals. No matter how much you trust the nanny herself, it's one more card to get accidentally lost, skimmed, or abused by a less than trustworthy person in her life.

When we had a live-in domestic helper overseas, we just gave her a mesh zipper pouch full of cash. It was her responsibility to keep the balance in a notebook, showing where she spent money, how much, and what the balance of her envelope was. She held onto receipts, and once a week or so I reconciled it and we both signed off. It was a good way for me to also make sure she was being savvy about shopping on sale, using coupons, etc., and not being lazy with our money; she liked the security of knowing that everything was accounted for so she'd never be falsely accused of stealing/losing money, and was really proud to show me the bargains she got (we lived in place where prices are all negotiable, and she was a good bargainer). I'd give her significant sums of money at once, but she knew only to take out what she needed for the errand/day.

I'd just make her an authorized user on one of your accounts. Or, open a new account with a low limit and make her an authorized user on that if you don't feel comfortable giving access to an account with a high limit.