subject: Prepaid Cards: The Benefits [print this page] Prepaid Cards: The Benefits Prepaid Cards: The Benefits
Prepaid cards are very beneficial because you don't have to worry about going into debt as long as you use your prepaid card since that is your own money that is in there. Prepaid cards can be a debit card or a credit card, and they both work the same way, except for with some prepaid credit cards, you can also build up your credit at the same time without ever risking going into debt!
You can put money into a prepaid card anytime you want, and you can check your balance as many times as you want by either looking on the website or calling on the phone. You may even be able to check your balance at your local ATM as well depending on your prepaid card and your ATM.
When you use your prepaid card, be sure to select the credit button when you swipe it since you will not have a pin number associated with the card like you would a debit card. Think of it as credit from yourself since you put that money into it ahead of time, much like a gift card when someone puts money on the card ahead of time. When you return something, usually that money can go back on the card, just swipe it like you would a regular credit or debit card to get your money back.
You can also add money to the card anytime you want. And another nice thing about the card is if it ever gets lost or stolen, you can get the money back on your card just like a regular credit card. Carrying so much cash around can not only be dangerous if others see it, but once you lose it, it is gone. So, as you can see, there are many benefits for having a prepaid card!
