Why a Family Bank Account Might Just Be the Parenting Hack You Didn’t Know You Needed

Sammie
September 2nd, 2024 | 5 minutes
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Why We Switched to a Family Bank Account and Haven’t Looked Back

If you’d told me a few years ago that a family bank account would be a game-changer for our household, I probably would’ve laughed it off. But here we are, and honestly? It’s one of the best decisions we’ve made as parents.

Let me back up a bit. With two kids under 18 and a partner who’s as busy as I am, managing our finances used to be a bit of a circus. We had multiple accounts, different payment methods, and a system that, if I’m being honest, was more about crossing our fingers and hoping everything balanced out at the end of the month. Spoiler alert: it often didn’t.

Then we stumbled upon Zeta's family bank accounts. It wasn’t something we were actively searching for, but it piqued our interest. One account for up to four members, with features that let us track our kids’ spending, set limits, and even automate our budget? We figured it was worth a shot.

One Account to Rule Them All

The first thing we noticed after setting up the account was how much simpler everything became. No more trying to remember which card to use for what, or whose account had which bills coming out. Everything was in one place. My partner and I both had access, and it made managing our money together a breeze. We could see exactly what was going on, from the big expenses to those sneaky little ones that tend to add up.

Giving the Kids Financial Freedom (But Not Too Much)

Now, the real game-changer was adding the kids as Companions on the account. They got their own debit cards, which made them feel super grown-up, but we still had the reins. We could see where they were spending, set limits, which automatically block certain purchases. It was the perfect balance—giving them some independence while still keeping an eye on things.

Zeta+: Automation+ the Real MVP

And then there was the Automation+. I can’t tell you how much time this has saved us. Zeta's AI automatically calculates our budget based on our both our paychecks and expenses, and even sets aside money for savings goals we’ve chosen depending on our paychecks each month. It’s like having a financial planner that works behind the scenes, making sure we’re not overspending and that our savings are on track. We didn’t even realize how much mental energy we were using to juggle everything until we didn’t have to anymore. Best $10 bucks a month we've spent.

So, Would We Recommend It?

In a word, yes. Switching to Zeta's family bank accounts has made managing our finances easier. It’s not just about the money—it’s about what you can achieve as a team when everyone’s on the same page. If you’re juggling family life and finances and feeling a bit overwhelmed, I’d say give it a try. It might just be the little hack you’ve been looking for.

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1Zeta is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Piermont Bank; Member FDIC. All deposit accounts of the same ownership and/or vesting held at the issuing bank are combined and insured under an FDIC Certificate of $250,000 per depositor. The Zeta Mastercard® Debit Card is issued by Piermont Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted.

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