How do I set up a Spend Control for a specific store?

Want to limit the amount of money your child can spend at a specific store? Greenlight has your back! Simply:

1. Navigate to their Dashboard.
2. Tap the arrow under “Accounts”
3. Tap on "Spend"
4. Scroll down to “Spend Controls”
5. Tap "Add a Spend Control"
6. Search for the name of the physical or online store in the search bar and click on the store once you find it
7. If you'd like your child to spend no more than the amount of money you put in this category, you can just toggle the “Pull overages from Spend Anywhere” off. This will cause their card to decline if they try to spend more than the allotted amount at this store
8. You can also choose where you’d like any of the “Remaining balance” in this spend control to go after a purchase is made (Keep the change, Return change to Greenlight Wallet, or Move change to savings)
9. Tap "Add Spend Control” once you’re all set to confirm you'd like to add this specific store as a Spend Control.
10. You can choose to move funds into this store’s Spend Control now by tapping “Add money” or you can add money later on! the funds into this store's Spend Control by tapping "Move $ In"

Once you move those funds, they will be immediately available for the cardholder! All transfers between Spend Controls and Spend Categories are instant. You can learn more about Spend Controls here. 

How do I create a custom Spend Control for a store I can’t find?

Not every store shows up when you search — especially maybe some smaller shops, local favorites, or spots that go by a different name on paper. However, you can add your own Spend Control for any store in just a few taps!

1. From your Greenlight app, tap the cardholder’s profile
2. Tap “Spend” within their Accounts  tile
3. Scroll and tap “+ Add a Spend Control”
4. First, attempt to search for the store name and if it does not pop up, tap “Add new” next to the Can’t find a store prompt
5. Type in the name of the store
6. Tap “Save”
7. Set up the new Spend Control by toggling on or off “Pull overages from Category Controls or Spend Anywhere”
8. Choose where you’d like the change to go
9. Tap “Add Spend Control”
10. Decide if they’d like to “Add money” now or “Maybe later”

Important: New Spend Controls have “Pull overages from Category Controls or Spend Anywhere” turned on by default.

Want to block a store or merchant instead?

If you'd prefer to prevent spending at a specific store entirely, you can block the merchant by setting the Spend Control to $0 and turning off “Pull overages from Spend Anywhere” for that store.

For step-by-step instructions, visit our article: How to block a store or merchant