Alternative to Venmo or cash

[litskispeciality]

I mentioned in another post that we have a cousin graduating HS and I want to do something special. In the past we gave her two sisters cash physically in person at their graduation ceremonies. We'd like to give this person a small gift as well, however she doesn't have Venmo. My concern with sending cash is that they have people in the house who will spend every penny they can get their hands on. I'm trying to think of a third way to get her a monetary gift that essentially can't be stolen. Any thoughts or just risk mailing cash and tell them to watch the mail closely?

[just]

Facebook? I did it once for a friend who had no other way to receive it and it worked fine.

Though I don't think HS students use FB nowadays.

[pandora89]

I dont know how bank accounts in the US work but here (Canada) we are able to send money directly via interact-e transfer. It's done through online banking and you just put the recipients email in, put a password and the amount and it sends directly to the other persons email and gives them options as to how to deposit it into their account. This option is usually free or the bank will charge a $1 fee. Do you guys have this option?

[atlas]

Zelle works really well. Directly from bank account to bank account.

[definitelyO]

could you send a Visa gift card?

[mysteriouswife]

Cash App, Apple Pay, FB, Venmo, PayPal, VISA GC

[wildrice]

What about a good old fashioned check?

If not, I would encourage her to sign up for Venmo or even Paypal. It is free and is easy, and will come in handy in the future.

[Deleted]

May 28, 2020 12:34:50 GMT -5 wildrice said:

What about a good old fashioned check?

If not, I would encourage her to sign up for Venmo or even Paypal. It is free and is easy, and will come in handy in the future.

This is what I going to suggest as well. As a matter of fact, we always use a check when we give a graduation gift. Of course, DH calls me old fashioned LOL

[litskispeciality]

These are great ideas, thank you! I'm not sure if she has a bank account so I'll have to find out. One would think she should given she has a job and the issues at home, but that's not guaranteed. Let me confirm she has an account, then I'll use one of these options.

[mbcdefg]

If cash is the only workable option ...

If you were to tuck some cash inside a book or another physical gift, and mail that and discreetly let the cousin know that there is a cash gift hidden for them ... would the other household members think to look for hidden cash? Any chance they’d steal the gift or try to sell it or something? Maybe a “boring” book would be overlooked and you can use it to hide some cash.

[mich1]

I only ever mail checks for my niece’s graduation gifts. It may be old fashioned, but has a lot more safeguards than other ways.

[Jalapeñomel]

Gift card