Archive for category Prepaid cards
Back to school without breaking the bank
Posted by Jag in Prepaid cards, Products on August 23rd, 2010
Having the student tuition blues? Going to school nowadays can be quite expensive. Last year I was feeling pretty down about my cash flow situation. I did some research, looked around, and finally came up with these 10 tips that helped keep my budget and my stress on track.
10 tips to help students save money
1. Drop the fancy data and phone plans
We are told through the media that we need fancy data plans, unlimited SMS, and free calling. Communications companies even have plans specifically for students. I recommend dropping the big data plan, as most phones come equipped with Wi-Fi, and your campus usually provides free Wi-Fi. Keep your phone for important calls. You can use online calling services such as Skype and ooVoo to make free calls PC to PC, or use your Net+ Prepaid MasterCard® to set up a paid account.
2. Laptops and Gadgets
Shop early. Typically by August all of the major electronics retailers have their back to school sales for computers. Buy what you need, don’t get lured into fancy features that usually end up costing you more. Keep an eye out for exclusive student deals.
3. Meals on us
Ever heard about the school meal plans? Try to avoid these if you can. School meal plans are more expensive than they sound, and will actually end up costing you more. On the other hand, having your grocery money lying around your house might vanish too quickly on video games, booze and parties. Instead, I use my Net+ card as my meal card; it’s accepted anywhere you can use MasterCard. I buy all my groceries on my card, putting 150 USD on my card every month. This way I can ensure I don’t spend beyond my means.
4. Avoid fancy gyms
Doctors recommend 1 hour of physical activity each day. There’s many alternative ways of getting this physical activity other than paying 30+ EUR for a gym membership every month. Your school will typically have a free gym for students – check that out first. Second, drop by the athletics department; most student organizations offer several intramural teams and pick-up games to join. It’s great way to stay active and make new friends, all for free.
5. Leave the car at home
The cost of gas, insurance, car payments, and parking are just too much for any student to afford. You don’t need a car, especially when there’s public transportation available at a fraction of the cost. Don’t forget, skateboarding, rollerblading, biking and walking can also get your around for free.
6. Buy used books
After my first semester, I realized that new textbooks were a waste, especially since I would never open them again. You can save a small fortune by buying used books. Shop online for books with your Net+ virtual card, or try finding a peer who might have taken the class before. Click here if you’d like to compare textbooks.
7. Don’t pay bank fees
You need to store all your hard earned cash, scholarship, or student loan money somewhere. Most banks offer a student account; however, these accounts only offer you limited transactions, only a few free transactions per month, as well as a monthly account service fee. With a NETELLER eWallet, you can keep your funds in your account and pay for all your needs for free using the Net+ Prepaid MasterCard.
8. Avoid the credit cards
As students we love anything free. This is how most high-interest rate credit card companies take advantage of us. They’ll offer a free water bottle, shirt or a chance to win something for just signing up for a credit card. Credit card companies offer you high limits so you’re enticed to spend beyond your means and then are stuck paying off a loan with a very high interest rate. Avoid paying interest and spending beyond your means with a Net+ prepaid card.
9. Watch it online
It’s pointless to pay for cable TV when you barely have time to sit in front of the TV. Nowadays you can purchase tons of music, TV shows and even movies directly online. You can make your entertainment purchases securely online using your Net+ virtual card.
10. Control your spending.
There’s no better way to stay on budget than to know what you’re spending your money on. Keep your receipts. Set yourself up with a monthly budget for your expenses, deposit the amount you have to spend into your NETELLER account and use your Net+ card to track and control your spending. The Net+ cards won’t allow you to spend more than what you have in your account.
I hope these tips help you out as much as they have helped me. Good luck with the upcoming semester!
Today’s post was written by Jag, a Marketing Manager. Jag loves driving her big truck and visiting Las Vegas (but not necessarily both at the same time).
Getting paid without the pain
Posted by Ashton in How-to, Prepaid cards on August 19th, 2010
Have you ever gone on a trip or ate at a restaurant with friends and dreaded splitting up the final bill? Who owes what, did Mark eat the pizza or the salad? Someone always ends up paying too much or too little, and if you pay for the entire bill it’s not always easy to ask for your money back.
I recently went on a trip to the Canadian Rockies with a bunch of my friends. Instead of having to go through each of our food, drink, gas and hotel bills, we decided to put all of our expenses on my Net+ card and worry about the details later.
Anything from a round of drinks to a quick coffee to a weekend car rental can be effortlessly purchased and split up with NETELLER. NETELLER’s eWallet provides an e-receipt of all of your purchases, which makes splitting the bill simple.
My friends easily owed me over 100 CAD, but since I followed these 3 easy steps, I haven’t had any issues with my friends paying me back.
3 easy steps to getting your money back
- Talk about it before hand: Before you lend, think to yourself – are you sharing expenses? If yes, then discuss the costs and how you’re going to share them before you go. No one likes a surprise. You should also set the ground rules. How much does your friend need, can you afford to lend this amount?
- Set a payback timeline: Set specific dates for when your friend(s) will pay you back. Remember, don’t wait too long to get paid back.
- Give reminders: Remind people in advance of when the payment is due; it’s easy to forget to pay back, especially when it’s your friend.
If you like the idea of fewer payment hassles, click here to learn more about NETELLER’s simple Money Transfer service.
Oh, and if your friend doesn’t have a NETELLER account, send them an invite to join NETELLER and take advantage of our Refer a Friend program. Click here for more information.
Today's blog is by Ashton. She’s a strong charity advocate, loves Pilates, long walks on the beach… Oh yeah, and she’s a typical red head.
Holiday planning done securely
Posted by Suzanne in Prepaid cards, Products, Travel on August 13th, 2010
Vacation season is in full swing, and this year you may have decided to forgo the travel agent by booking your trip online. Booking your own vacation may be fun, but it's important not to let that distract you from spending securely online. It's easy to purchase on an unsecure site, but it is not easy to reverse the damages it can do to your bank account and sometimes your credit.
Taking precautions
It takes just a few precautions to protect yourself when booking your holidays online. This small effort will benefit you in the long run. To ensure you are spending securely and responsibly online, just ask yourself the following questions before you press that "buy" button:
- Is my PC secure? Make sure your browser is updated and your PC is protected with a reliable and up-to-date security program.
- Who am I buying from? If you are booking a flight, hotel or car reservation on a website that you've never used or are not familiar with, do some research to make sure they are legitimate.
- Is the site secure? Secure sites will often have a secure symbol like an unbroken lock or key and a secure URL that begins with https://.
- Will my personal information remain private? Make sure you have read the site's privacy policy. If the site plans to share your information with a third party, it will be stated in the privacy policy.
- Do I have proof of my booking/reservation? Once the transaction has been processed, the site will provide a confirmation of your booking or reservation. Print this out for your records.
Secure payments
The final step you can take in protecting yourself while booking your vacation online is to use the most secure payment method. Credit cards will do the trick, but can potentially give access to your personal information or credit. A prepaid card is the most secure method of payment because there is no attachment to your bank account or your credit. These few simple steps will help you plan your trip while keeping your personal information safe. Small price to pay for peace of mind, wouldn't you say?
Today’s post was written by Suzanne. She is a Marketing Program Manager and loves to shop and drive around town in her new Mini.
Why choose a prepaid card over a credit card?
Posted by Suzanne in Prepaid cards, Products on August 3rd, 2010
Are you on the hunt for a credit card but tend to have trouble staying on budget, or haven’t had the chance to build your credit rating? It’s unlikely that with little, no or bad credit history you’ll be approved for a credit card, and if by chance you are approved the credit card provider will likely gouge you with high interest rates or monthly/yearly fees that will definitely not make it worth your while to even have a credit card. This is all easily avoided with a prepaid card.
No credit checks
If you’re just starting out and haven’t had a chance to build up your credit rating, you may not be approved for a credit card once you go through the mandatory credit check. The same goes for someone whose credit has suffered as a result of hard times. Prepaid cards are ideal for people like this because they won’t need to go through any sort of a credit check to be approved.
Avoid high interest rates
I remember when I got my first credit card, my interest rate was in the range of 16%, which at the time I thought was high. Over the years, it changed to an astonishing 17%! After experiencing the latest increase to 19.75%, I began to realize that maybe my credit card is not the best and only payment solution. If you’re a credit card holder with a balance on your account, imagine how much you’re putting in to interest payments alone. Enter prepaid cards – since you don’t hold a balance on the card, you won’t be at risk of having to pay outrageous interest fees.
Control your spending
Have you ever received your credit card statement and thought to yourself “Hmmmm, I don’t remember buying that” or “When did I spend that much money?!” I know I have (a lot). Credit cards are an enabler of excessive spending with high limits which you end up paying for through high interest rates. If controlled spending is your goal, then a prepaid card is the best bet for you because you can deposit however much you want and once the amount you’ve allotted has been spent, you’re done until the next time you load your card, so this keeps you more aware of where your money is going.
Do everything you would do with a credit card
With a prepaid card, you can do everything that a credit card allows you to do. Go ahead, use your prepaid card to book your flights, hotel reservations, car rentals, buy books or music online or in the real world, etc. And you’ll be doing it easier with a prepaid card because you’ll be avoiding the hassle of a credit check, annual fees and those insanely high interest rates.
Choose the Net+ Prepaid MasterCard®
You get all of the above with the Net+ prepaid card. It’s free to apply, no credit check is required, and we don’t charge any interest or monthly/yearly fees. So what are you waiting for? Sign up for your card today!
Have you got your Net+ card?
Today’s post was written by Suzanne. She is the Marketing Program Manger for eWallet strategy. She also loves to shop and drive around town in her new Mini.
Travelling money
Posted by Danny in Community, Prepaid cards, Travel on July 29th, 2010
Cards have their uses when you’re travelling, no doubt about that. Credit cards or prepaid cards like the Net+ Prepaid MasterCard® are good to have for major purchases like plane fare, theater tickets or the fancy restaurant that’s seriously outside of your daily budget but dang it you’re here let’s live a little. Things that cost an amount of money you might not be comfortable carrying around a strange city far from home. Plus most hotels will require some form of card as a deposit on your room, whether you pay in cash on checkout or already paid online. So, yes, cards are useful. But you’re still going to need cash.
Still a cash world
There’s all sorts of things out there you’re going to need cash for. Maybe you’re out to shop at an Asian night market, maybe you’re hitting a food stand because your night isn’t complete without eating something on a stick, maybe you’re in a taxi that isn’t set up for credit cards. Tips, underground tickets, vending machines, there is going to come a time when you need some cash money. The hope is that this doesn’t happen at a time when cash is hard to come by.
Finding ATMs
Yes, your Net+ card can be used at any ATM on the Maestro or Cirrus networks. And that’s extremely useful. I’ve been able to withdraw from ATMs as close to home (home being Canada) as Seattle or Las Vegas and as far away as the Malaysian island of Langkawi. But it helps to know where the ATMs are. When I first arrived in Langkawi, my initial cash roll, which had seen me through Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and the rainforest of Taman Negara, was running short. Sadly it wasn’t until after I’d left the airport and arrived at my hotel that I found out the closest cash machine was back at the airport. Lacking even the 12 ringgit (about 4 USD) for the taxi ride back, I was left with a bit of a hike to get more money. Still, it could have been worse.
When cash is hard to come by
Of all the places I’ve been to in the world, the 2 where it was hardest to get extra cash were Japan and Cuba. Japan I didn’t expect. After being able to easily withdraw cash at multiple ATMs on Langkawi, I thought for sure that it would be easy in the sprawling metropolis of Tokyo. Not so. Most ATMs in Tokyo proved resistant to my debit card. I was only able to take out money twice, once at the airport and once at a North American bank branch that took an hour or so of searching to find.
Cuba’s currencies
Cuba is a whole other problem. When I was last there, ATMs were hard to come by in Cuba. We exchanged money at the airport upon arrival, then had to make it last, because even at Havana’s Scotiabank we were unable to get extra money. The Canadian bank would not accept a Canadian card. A possible reason for the difficulty in withdrawing extra cash, as well as the reason it became a problem by the end of the week, is that Cuba has two currencies: the traditional peso, given to and spent by the locals, and the far more valuable convertible peso, given to and spent by tourists. Foreign currencies can only be exchanged for convertible pesos, and places where they’re available are few and far between. The two currencies also play a role in making Cuba a cash society; people have given up jobs as engineers, architects and University professors to work as tour guides, taxi drivers and hotel staff in order to be tipped in the more valuable currency. Not many stores take credit cards, and the ones that do add an 11% surcharge for credit purchases. Most importantly, you’ll need some cash at the end of the trip for airport fees. So make sure you know how much you’re going to need for souvenirs, food and those oh-so-valued tips.
Carry what you need
Earlier blogs discussed how your Net+ card is a smart way to control your travel budget and get around restrictions on importing currency, and it is. I mean, I don’t know about you but after spending months, even years saving up for a trip, the last thing I want to do when it’s over is keep paying for it because I put 500 dollars on my MasterCard. But once you’ve arrived at your destination, you’re still going to need some walking around money (or get driven around in a taxi money as the case may be), and it’s important to know how much you’ll need and how easily you’ll be able to get more. Look into how easy ATMs are to find and where the closest ones are to where you’re staying. A fully loaded eWallet won’t do you much good without a way to get at your money.
Today’s post was written by Danny. When not writing plays, Danny's part of NETELLER’s social media team. Danny can be found on Twitter (@danny_g).
Use your Net+ card to win in Johannesburg
Posted by Danny in Prepaid cards, Travel on June 29th, 2010
Planning a trip to South Africa to catch the football finals? Need money for the trip? Here’s a warning: restrictions on importing and exporting South African currency mean that the most you can bring into the country is 5,000 rand, or about 650 USD. Take any more than that and you risk having it confiscated upon entering the country. Taking your own currency means dealing with local fees and surcharges when exchanging it into rand.
Better way to carry your travel money
There is another option, however. The Net+ Prepaid MasterCard® allows you to load up your NETELLER eWallet with however much you intend to spend on your trip, in whichever currency you wish. Once in South Africa, you can withdraw your money in rands from any ATM on the Cirrus or Maestro networks. You can also use your card to pay for purchases anywhere MasterCard is accepted.
Prepaid cards are also a protection against theft and fraud. The Chip and PIN protections will help keep your money secure, as will the fact that it is not tied to your personal bank account, only your eWallet. And replacement cards can be acquired quickly and easily in the case of loss or theft.
So to make the most of your trip to the big games, make sure the Net+ card is your travel companion.
Today’s post was written by Danny. When not writing plays, Danny’s part of NETELLER’s social media team. Danny can be found on Twitter (@danny_g).
Travelling on a budget
Posted by Niclas in Guest posts, Prepaid cards, Travel on June 5th, 2010
Today’s post was written by guest blogger Niclas Aarestrup from Denmark. He is a travel writer and he uses his Net+ card everywhere. Follow him on Twitter today (http://twitter.com/niclasaa) and keep up with his latest travels.
Travelling on a budget makes a lot of sense. Back when I had just turned 18 and was going out on a holiday without my parents I managed to spend around 5,300 USD on a 2 week vacation in France (and that doesn’t include flight and hotel). I had a great time during the vacation and a slightly less great time when I got back home.
So why did this happen? Well, first of all I had been given just about any kind of plastic card imaginable by my bank, plus a stack of EuroCheques. And what was even worse, I had made absolutely no attempt at making a budget for the trip even though I had been to France before and thus had a pretty good idea what expenses I should expect.
Once I was back from my holiday I managed to get my debt settled and returned all of my plastic cards and cheques. I have avoided getting any new credit cards since then, not wanting to tempt fate.
Limiting your spending
So making a budget makes a lot of sense, and not only for young or first time travellers, but for all of us. And having a credit card, or even a debit card connected directly to your bank account, might mean you are more likely to spend money you’ll later wish you hadn’t. Having a prepaid card can alleviate a lot of those dangers, and you might still be able to increase your holiday budget if you find the need, after taking a moment to consider whether that extra purchase is really necessary.
If you are a full-time student or under 26 years old (or in some cases 30), you should also make sure to get a student ID and possibly an international student ID as this will offer discounts or even free entry in many places. If you don’t know if a place offers student discounts, just ask, you might get a discount anyway.
Making a travel plan
When you decide to go on a holiday you probably have some place in mind, as well as how you wish to travel and what kind of accommodation you want to use. These choices will usually also give you an idea of how much you want to spend during your holiday.
It might be you choose to stay at a hostel so you have more funds to spend at your destination or to keep your trip’s price tag down. Another choice is to splurge on a top notch hotel and maybe some gourmet dining. Whatever your choice, I would recommend you do a little research and check the cost of meals at your destination as well as local transport and fees to get into any museums, parks, tours or discos. This will give you an idea about how much money you should set aside for your travel budget on top of the price of the trip itself. As with all budgets, you should always remember to have a little extra money available for those unforeseen costs. Also check if there is some kind of city pass available. These usually include free local transport as well as free or discounted entry to museums, galleries and other places of interest.
How Net+ can help
Using a prepaid card such as Net+ from NETELLER will allow you to set aside money and help keep you from overspending during your holiday. This card has reasonable fees and exchange rates sometimes lower than those offered by banks and exchange agencies. If you want extra security for yourself, set up some post-dated money transfers from your bank account to your NETELLER account before you leave home. That way you will keep the money available to you to a reasonable amount, basically recharging your finances at set intervals. Transfers from your bank account to NETELLER are usually processed quite fast. Check with your bank and the NETELLER website beforehand to get an idea of how many days you should expect for the transfer to clear into your account.
If you use your Net+ card at hotels that are not a part of a package or charter tour, you will usually have to provide your card at check-in as well as giving your card details when making your booking. Also, you will notice that many hotels will reserve a set amount of money to cover any charges you might incur during your stay, such as room service or things from the mini bar. These funds are only reserved, but this means they will not be available for you to use until somewhere from 3-6 days after you’ve checked out. It is usually a nice round figure that is reserved in local currency, such as 100 USD, 100 EUR, 100 GBP. If you prefer, some hotels will allow you to leave a cash deposit which they will refund when you check out. Don’t be afraid to ask the check-in desk.
Picking a currency
When you sign up for a NETELLER account and order your Net+ card you should also take a moment to consider what currency you would like to have it in. Usual choices will either be your local currency or the currency that you will most often be using. If the currency you most often use is unstable you might want to keep the card in your local currency. If your local currency is unstable you might consider having it in another currency. I personally use my card to make payments in several currencies and my local currency is fairly stable, so I have chosen to have my card and account in my local currency. NETELLER offers their accounts and cards in more currencies than most, if not all, other solutions.
Besides limiting your available spending to only the money you have set aside for your holiday, the NETELLER account and Net+cards also offer another fantastic tool that not all banks or card issuers offer, namely the ability to instantly view your transactions online and also control your available funds. You can see a transaction literally seconds after you’ve completed it. Trust me; I have tested it a few times already. If the transaction was in another currency than your card the exchange rate of the transaction might change the amount, but unless something crazy happens, these changes will usually be minimal. I have tested this on a Netbook, iPhone, Android Smartphone and even an ordinary budget mobile.
Other tips
Buying travel insurance or checking what is covered by your existing policies is also a very good idea. If you have some of your cash or belongings stolen or get sick abroad you might need additional funds in a hurry. Theft is also a very good reason to make photocopies of the front of all your credit and debit cards, passport, ID cards, driver’s license, insurance card and tickets as well as a list of numbers to call to report your cards or documents stolen. Store these documents in a safe place, like a hotel safe or with someone back home you can always reach by phone.
Speaking of phones, do remember that if you bring your mobile with you, roaming charges are usually insanely high, especially if you have a phone that uses data. Even text messages can become extremely costly. 1 way to reduce those costs would be to buy a local, prepaid card, available to tourists in most countries. I would recommend that you go to a proper phone store and tell them what you would like to use the card for, so you get the most economic solution for your needs. In Denmark Lebara offers cheap call rates to other countries from Denmark. If you’re visiting the UK I would recommend that you check out the Your Country SIM from O2. There are also several services online that offer different kinds of international SIM cards with rates usually more favourable than those offered by your own carrier. If the country you’re visiting has a mobile system that is incompatible with your mobile, you can often buy a prepaid card with a cheap mobile.
For budget travel these websites that might come in handy:
- Cheap flights: www.momondo.com
- Cheap train travel and timetables in Europe: http://www.bahn.de/i/view/GBR/en/index.shtml
- Hotels and hostels worldwide: www.hotels.com, www.hrs.com
- Cheap deals on train travel, and bus travel, in the UK, USA and Canada: www.megatrain.co.uk
- Low cost tours all over the world: www.tours4fun.com
Happy travelling!



