Archive for the ‘Personal Finance’ Category

Benefits of Using Visa Debit Cards

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Boyd Gammon recently asked:


Visa debit cards have many uses for consumers. It doesn’t matter whether you’re young, old, or have good credit, bad credit, or even if you have a bank account or not. You can use Visa debit cards in place of traditional credit cards and bank accounts, or in addition to them. You can also use these cards to help your children learn money management skills, instead of giving them a cash allowance or spending money. Whatever you choose, you can do just about anything with Visa debit cards.

For kids and adults alike, prepaid cards are a great way to get the things you need and still be able to control your spending. It’s not so simple to go into a store with a regular credit card or check card and make yourself only spend ‘x’ amount on your shopping trip. However, if you leave all of your money at home, except for the allocated amount loaded onto a prepaid Visa debit card, you’ll only spend the money that you planned on spending in the first place. Visa debit cards come in prepaid forms from a variety of sources, and are also issued by banks as part of a checking account.

The great thing about using Visa debit cards versus any other type of card is that Visa is one of the most widely accepted names in the credit card world, giving you notoriety and making you feel more important. Generally, unless the Visa card has a known name, many people won’t even know that it’s a prepaid debit card if you don’t tell them. That way, you can manage your money and not worry about people seeing that you obviously can’t get a credit or debit card otherwise.

Visa debit cards come with many different programs, designs, and even uses in mind. You can find general use cards, gas cards, store specific cards, and even bank specific cards for your checking account use. People have found endless uses for Visa debit cards. From paying bills and managing money to helping kids to control their spending, there is a seemingly endless array of purposes for Visa debit cards. The only thing that matters is that when you’re in the market for a debit card, you check out Visa to see what they can offer you. With so many choices and programs designed for all different types of customers, you should be able to easily find exactly what you want in Visa debit cards.





Don’t Let the Recession Get You Down, Get Creative with Your Income: Prepaid Debit Cards & Other Tips

Sunday, December 20th, 2009
Michael Griffin recently asked:


This recession has everyone watching their finances very carefully. During a time when the stability of your job and income can be potentially wavering, it is wise to start paying attention to things you may have overlooked in the past. Whether you’ve lost your job, are on unemployment, or are concerned about the welfare of your family, there are some rather simple precautions you can take to ensure a greater amount of financial stability during this economic downturn. Outlined below are just a few (of several) preventative measures you can take.

Plan Ahead:

By now, we are all well aware that it is time to safeguard our money whether we’ve lost our jobs or not. Things are incredibly unpredictable during a recession and you should not fully trust your current source of income. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket so to speak. Consider taking a day or two and begin plotting a financial schedule/budget. Start with a list of your “required” items and then continue on with “wants,” etc. Most people don’t realize how clear things become once they are in writing. Start a budget and stick to it. Only buy necessities and begin saving, whether you need to at that moment or not. Think about putting your extra funds on a prepaid debit card instead of into your bank account, that way you can keep your funds separate and available during necessary times. Additionally, if you don’t have a bank account due to bad credit or other reasons, prepaid cards are a great investment, as they don’t come with any of the additional fees associated with bank accounts.

Shop Smart & Make the Most of What You Have

If you haven’t started clipping coupons or looking them up online, it’s time to start. Instead of going through your local newspaper for cut outs, just simply go online and search for anything you need a coupon for, i.e. “Charmin toilet paper coupons.” You will be amazed the savings that come from spending just a few minutes before each shopping trip to search for coupons. Also, many online stores don’t have brick and mortar locations but offer great savings. Websites are also getting hit hard by this recession with consumer spending being down and are offering free shipping, buy 1 get 1 free, and percentages off online purchases. These may be discounts not available through coupons or at your local store, so take advantage of them and search wisely. Consider designating a budget for online purchases and place that money on a prepaid debit card. With a prepaid card you can make purchases online safely and securely, and you can even use PayPal when needed. In addition to shopping wisely, make the most of what you have. Save leftovers for later or to make into other meals, tailor clothes at home to fit the season, or even watch your favorite TV shows and movies online instead of paying extra for them on your cable bill.

Consider Alternative Sources of Income

If you’ve lost your job or are worried about losing your job, start thinking about alternative ways to secure an income. Think about having a garage sell or selling some items on eBay. Additionally, there are stores like Buffalo Exchange or other resale stores that pay good money for old clothes, shoes, accessories, and furniture. Also, there are several ways to obtain a somewhat steady income online. You can blog on sites to review products and get paid quite decently for each post. You can also answer surveys online for money or even become a mystery shopper. When your customary source of income is no longer available, it’s time to get creative.

While this list is in no way an exhaustive list of options for money management during this recession, they are a good place to start. Start thinking outside the box and you’ll be amazed at what you come up with. It’s extraordinary the amount of money you can save when you put your mind to it. Good luck!





Prepaid Cards for Gaming and Gambling

Saturday, November 14th, 2009
Aashish Sharma recently asked:


The future is Prepaid

Prepaid credit cards are already sparking a revolution in how transactions are performed today. The signs for the future are rather ominous too. Prepaid credit cards are already used widely in America and people from other countries have started to consider them seriously as well. The UK Market is one of the more mature markets.

They allow an average individual to enjoy the benefits offered by a credit or debit card. People having low credit worthiness can depend on these credit cards to perform various types of transactions such as making reservations for car rentals, hotels and purchasing items online.

Prepaid credit cards are now being used for Money Transfer, Travel, Gaming, Online Shopping, Payroll and Expense management, Privacy and Gifting.

Prepaid Cards in the Gambling Arena

Despite the fact that consumers are extremely wary of sharing their credit/debit card details online, over 6 million people indulge in online gambling every month. The main reason for their anxiety around credit or debit cards is that their card is linked to their bank account which means fraudsters have potential access to all their funds.

This is where the Prepaid card comes in as a viable alternative. As a prepaid credit card, it is not linked to any bank account and a scheme branded (MasterCard or Visa) prepaid card can be used for making purchases on gaming and gambling sites.

The usual age checks apply which is great but one of the biggest advantages in this era of social responsibility is that you can only spend up to the value of money loaded onto the card. This means better control and no overspending even if you want to whilst gambling online.

All in all prepaid cards represent an excellent alternative form of payment and control for gamblers online.

Find out more about the benefits of prepaid cards for gaming and gambling at Prepaid365.





Prepaid Cards for Teens - Establish Responsible Spending Habits

Saturday, October 31st, 2009
Cindy Steele recently asked:


While most experts would agree that giving credit cards to teens may not be the greatest idea in the world there most definitely is a viable solution in the form of prepaid cards for teens. Prepaid cards offer many advantages including having the ability to set spending limits while teaching youngsters how to manage their finances responsibly.

As you may know there is a difference between a credit card and a prepaid credit card. A credit card is what most of us use and provides the card holder with a pre-arranged line of credit with a lending institution. The credit card holder can spend this money anytime, anywhere, agreeing to pay back the amount in full, plus interest, by making at least a minimum monthly payment.

By contrast, using prepaid cards, does not involve borrowing money. Money must first be deposited into an account before the card can be used. The card holder can only spent the amount of money that has been deposited. Funds can be added to the card and no credit check is required to get this type of card.

These prepaid cards for teens are also sometimes called “preloaded cards” or “debit cards” but there isn’t much difference between any of them. Different prepaid cards have different monitoring options depending on the set up of the card and the institution that issues it. Sometimes a parent can actually monitor their teen’s use of the card and see where the money is being spent.

There are some basic similarities between prepaid cards and credit cards that make them advantageous for use by teens. They work exactly the same as a credit card and can be used wherever a credit card can be used. It allows them to make purchases online, over the phone or at stores, gas stations, restaurants and the like.

Probably the most sought after function that teens and parents are looking for in prepaid cards is the ability for the teams to access cash through an ATM. These cards can make it very easy and convenient for the teens to do just that. It is extremely easy to add additional money to the account which makes this card ideal in case of emergencies.

There are fees involved with using prepaid cards for teens. Some cards charge an annual membership fee, while others will charge a monthly fee. There can also be nominal withdrawal fees and fees for monthly statements if you choose to have one sent to you. There are however, no inactivity fees.

Cards differ on their terms and conditions for prepaid cards for teens. Make sure you know what the terms are, what fees will be incurred and the rules and regulations for use. Choose one that will work well for your particular situation and your teen. Prepaid cards for teens can teach a teenager responsibility and money management skills without having to deal with interest rates or the concern of overspending and debt accumulation.