Gifting an EU friend a pre-paid card?

ILikeSavingMoney2

My friend has moved from UK to the Eurozone and things are really tight financially. 
I'd like to send them a pre-paid card of some sort that they can use guilt-free to visit a coffeeshop or other little treat they can't really do any more.
Neither of us would feel comfortable me just sending cash/money to their account and a special card designated "for a coffee on me" seems nicer anyhow, more personal.

I'd like to send it with some money already on, I guess... not sure if these things can be bought as a one-off or I can/should retain the ability to add more to it at a later date, or treat it like a pre-paid phone 'voucher'.

I don't really know where this fits in to normal travel currency options, what is the best way to do it? I don't want a card in my name, and I don't want any security concerns.

Thank-you.

DullGreyGuy

In theory they could have a pre-paid credit card in their name and you then top it up when you feel like it but as its in their name you wouldn't be able to see the current balance or what they've been using it for etc by default. You could do it in your name and then share the card/pin but that inevitably will breach the terms of the card and could cause them problems when someone spots them using someone elses' credit card. 

If this was being done before they moved then would have said to look at https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/prepaid-travel-cards/ which says which of these card types give the best FX rates but the problem is your friend is no longer a UK resident and so unlikely to be eligible to apply for most of these. 

Wise may still be an option, they operate in many markets or you may need to look at whatever the equivalent local pre-paid credit card is and then use something like Wise to top it up to maintain the good FX rate. 

ILikeSavingMoney2

DullGreyGuy said:

In theory they could have a pre-paid credit card in their name and you then top it up when you feel like it but as its in their name you wouldn't be able to see the current balance or what they've been using it for etc by default. You could do it in your name and then share the card/pin but that inevitably will breach the terms of the card and could cause them problems when someone spots them using someone elses' credit card. 

Thanks, yes those all options all sound a bit too 'formal' I don't really want to be sharing an account

DullGreyGuy said:

If this was being done before they moved then would have said to look at <snip> which says which of these card types give the best FX rates but the problem is your friend is no longer a UK resident and so unlikely to be eligible to apply for most of these. 

Wise may still be an option, they operate in many markets or you may need to look at whatever the equivalent local pre-paid credit card is and then use something like Wise to top it up to maintain the good FX rate. 

I suppose I thought one could just buy a pre-charged debit card and give it to someone - sort of like a card for a gas-meter? But maybe that's not really possible as they would be such an obvious vehicle for money laundering, etc? The model of buying a pre-paid 'burner phone' basically but as a debit card - "here's €50".

I think debit rather than credit is preferable too... then there's no possibility of going overdrawn. I thought this sort of thing existed for parents to give their kids a very tightly controlled card.

We once had a WeSwap card, is that what Wise is, basically? I'm aware of Wise/Revolut but not looked into them properly.

eDicky

You will not (legitimately) be able to obtain any kind of card in your friend's name, if that's what you mean, they would have to apply for it themselves.

Also a card with a preloaded amount on it would be difficult to spend on to that exact amount, without wasted leftover. Why not just mail them a banknote, if it would feel more comfortable than a bank (or Wise etc) transfer..?

ILikeSavingMoney2

eDicky said:

You will not (legitimately) be able to obtain any kind of card in your friend's name, if that's what you mean, they would have to apply for it themselves.

Also a card with a preloaded amount on it would be difficult to spend on to that exact amount, without wasted leftover. Why not just mail them a banknote, if it would feel more comfortable than a bank (or Wise etc) transfer..?

well that's my point, I don't want the card to be in anyone's name. But I think I misunderstood that such a thing existed when maybe it doesn't.

as for sending cash, well the point is it is a separate 'pot'. Many people do this to aid budgeting. I send say €50 and that will get spent on groceries and then even though they are still €50 better off, they will still feel guilty going to the coffeeshop. I've been poor, I know that's how it works for many. 

If their town had Costa/Starbucks whatever you can but a gift "debit" card for specific stores which would work exactly as I describe. But as far as I can tell, one of the nice things where they live is it's all independent places.
I even tried to contact their favourite cafe to ask if they did any kind of gift vouchers but couldn't get a reply.

It seems IF I want to do this, and they are on-board with it, they should open an account and I will just transfer money to it. They can spend it as they wish (I don't want to see the transaction history) and I maybe put in €20 a month so they can treat themself to a coffee once or twice a week which would be quite a luxury.

Thanks for helping clear up my misconceptions.