What Is a Debit Card?
A debit card lets you use money from a bank account to pay for things.
Debit card vs credit card
💳 Debit card
Uses money already available in your account.
💠 Credit card
Lets you borrow money from the card provider. We'll cover this properly later, in Borrowing & Debt.
Spending from your account
The card isn't creating new money — it's simply a way of accessing money already available in your account.
Cash vs a debit card
With cash, you hand over coins or notes. With a debit card, the payment happens electronically, and the money is deducted from your account instead.
You're still spending it
Even though you don't physically hand over money with a card, you're still spending it. This matters because digital payments can make spending feel less obvious than handing over cash — the money still leaves your account either way.
What's left after each purchase?
You start with $20. You spend $6, then $5, then $2. What's your balance after each purchase?
$20 − $6 = $14. Then $14 − $5 = $9. Then $9 − $2 = $7 left.
Card safety basics
For younger children, pretend examples work well. When your child eventually uses a real card, encourage them to check their balance regularly and understand that every purchase reduces the money they have available.
Where to next
More on bank accounts and how banks work.