Expat Choice recently caught up with Georgina Bullworthy (pictured above), British Expat, eight year resident of Singapore and Managing Director of Canvas, a new prepaid Visa card for kids and domestic workers.
In today's spotlight featuring mavericks changing the way we live life in the time of Covid, John Gordon, co-founder of Expat Choice discusses with Georgina the value and convenience of Canvas - the newest way of transacting cashless in Singapore.
Please share with our readers Georgina, what is Canvas all about and how does it work?
Canvas is a cashless solution for family finance. A prepaid Visa card for kids and domestic helpers. It removes the need for parents and employers to make inconvenient trips to the ATM. It also helps parents to educate their kids on the value of money and the responsibility of owning a debit card and making wise digital purchases.
Where did the idea for Canvas come from and how did it get started?
Essentially, the idea behind Canvas was fuelled by parents who were trying to provide a cashless solution for their children’s pocket money and daily expenses and a convenient trackable way of covering daily household expenses for employers of helpers. Especially in today’s digitized life, going cashless is more essential now than ever. As there were no existing products in the market for these two consumer groups - both kids and domestic workers, Canvas was born. Now parents have a cashless solution that is both safe and hygienic, built for today’s digital age.
What are the benefits of using Canvas and why is Canvas useful for Singapore families?
Convenient, hygienic, safe and secure. But also an educational tool that encourages responsibility and independence from your children.
When would children use the card and how would using Canvas benefit a child or parents juggling home schooling to managing the household?
You will be surprised how many times you hear "mum - Can I have $10 for ......." it is a common occurrence in our house! Kids are using Canvas for public transport, buses, and MRT as well as taxis. Then school lunches and food and beverages on the go throughout the day. For the older kids weekend and school holiday trips to the cinema, trampoline park, bowling outings, and the like are all captured on the Canvas Visa card. For the little ones spending pocket money! Parents can use it for passing pocket money or money for daily expenses. I even saw a top-up from the tooth fairy last week!
When would a household helper use the card and how would using Canvas help in managing her finances?
So many times a day! Run out of milk, eggs, detergent - the list goes on. Sending your helper to grab these essentials as well as the weekly groceries is a saving grace! Also if the dog needs to go to the vet, the dry cleaning needs collecting, the parcel needs to be posted, the kids needs collecting from school - there are so many times a day that your helper can help you more easily with a cashless trackable solution.
What are the fees for using Canvas?
It is a very simple fee structure. We charge $2.99 per card per month - but all new cardholders get a 30-day free trial. You can top up $400 a month free of charge and after that only pay 1% of each top-up. Parents and employers can top-up using credit or debit cards, PayNow or bank transfer.
What are the current and coming promotions if any for Canvas?
Expat Choice readers can benefit from a special 30-day free trial and $10 credit per new child's card! Register Interest here
