Posts Tagged control your money
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!
How to make a credit card or debit card deposit
Many of our members like using their Visa or MasterCard credit cards to deposit money into their NETELLER accounts. If you haven’t tried this deposit option before, or are wondering how it works, check out this helpful demo video:
In addition to credit cards, NETELLER also accepts debit card deposits. Your Visa Electron, Visa Debit, Maestro Solo, Carte Bleue National or CartaSi cards are welcome here. Once a credit card or debit card deposit is completed, the funds will be instantly available in your account.
Limits and fees
Both Express and Extended members may deposit by credit card or debit card. Extended and VIP members have higher deposit limits than Express members. How much are you allowed to deposit? After you sign in and go to the “Deposit” tab, simply mouse over the green “?” mark to see your own deposit limits. Please be aware of the 1.75% deposit fee. By becoming a NETELLER VIP, you can exchange your NETPoints for free deposits.
Deposit declined?
Not all NETELLER credit card deposits succeed. If you start the deposit process and find out your transaction was declined, here are some possible reasons:
- Your card issuer does not permit transactions to NETELLER
- Deposit limits exceeded
- Incorrect card info entered
- Card not enabled for online shopping (eg. Verified by Visa)
- Need to clear your browser cache or cookies
Other deposit options
If you’re still not having any luck with credit card or debit card deposits, don’t worry. NETELLER has several other deposit options for you to try. In many countries we take free Local Bank Deposits, Ukash vouchers, or Instant Bank Deposits such as POLi, DIRECTebanking/Sofortüberweisung, iDeal or giropay. All members around the world can deposit using International Bank Transfers. Fees and processing times vary for each of these options.
For even more detailed information about credit and debit card deposits, please visit our FAQ page.
Today’s post was written by Gareth. As NETELLER’s Localisation and Communications Specialist, Gareth manages our translations and multilingual content. He also creates videos for our YouTube channel. Gareth can be followed on Twitter (@Mengkai).
A travel guy’s guide to buying online this Christmas
Posted by Niclas in Community, Guest posts on December 16th, 2009
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.
The time to be with near and dear ones is fast-approaching, but it’s also the time to give and receive. Yes, the race for this year’s Christmas gifts is intensifying. Many people are discovering they can save quite a bit of money buying things online. You not only benefit from lower prices, but often from a much larger selection.
Shop the world, but read the fine print
Shopping online opens a world of gift-giving possibilities. You are no longer limited to merchants in your own country. But be aware, finding bargains by buying abroad might mean high shipping costs, taxes and other fees. Take extra care reading the merchant’s terms and conditions since the consumer protection policy might be different than what you are familiar with.
Gift buying within the European Union
If you live within the European Union and decide to buy from an EU merchant, things are a little simpler. You might still find shipping costs to be fairly high, but the price you pay on a merchant’s website includes all taxes. In terms of consumer protection you are also better off. If the merchant you regularly buy from actively advertises in your country, they are bound by the consumer protection laws that are in effect there.
You will also have a minimum of 7 days to return the purchase, but remember that certain restrictions apply to this rule. Check with the merchant and/or your national European consumer centre. You can find more information on this subject at the European Commission’s website.
Pay online securely with Net+
The safest way to pay for your goods online is to use debit or credit cards. Bank transfers, wire transfers and Western Union all seem like good methods, but keep in mind that they all provide minimal protection and should only be used if you know the merchant.
But if you’re a member of NETELLER you’re in luck because it offers an extremely secure solution to shopping online with its Net+ virtual prepaid card. It will help to control your online spending, which is great, especially if you get caught up in the spirit of the season. The only money available to you is what you have deposited in your NETELLER eWallet.
The beauty of the Net+ virtual prepaid card is that it generates a one-time use card number so that your purchases and money are protected when you’re online. Even though it has great security features, always make sure when buying online that you are on an encrypted page when you enter your payment details. These usually have an address that starts with https and most web browsers will display a closed lock to indicate that the data is encrypted.
Here are some sites I have used and may help you with your Christmas shopping:
- Amazon is not limited to books. You can find all kinds of goodies at their site, but shipping destinations may be limited. And the Amazon site is also available these countries : Canada - China – France – Germany – Japan – United Kingdom
- Harrods, the renowned London department store is also online. Why not get their famous Christmas teddy bear?
- Pricerunner lets you compare prices on many products. They not only list online merchants, but also high-end retailers. You can also compare prices among countries. You can also check out a Pricerunner site closer to home: United Kingdom – France – Germany – Austria – Sweden – Denmark
- Conrad offers all kinds of electronics, gadgets and hobby products at fair prices. They ship to most countries.
- Hamleys, the world famous London-based toy store ships to most destinations.
- Model trains and accessories are available at Factory Direct Trains, which ships worldwide.
Tell me some of your tips to shopping online.
Shop online securely with a Net+ prepaid virtual card
Posted by Rachna in Community, Guest posts, Prepaid cards, Products on December 5th, 2009
Today’s post was written by guest blogger Rachna. She is a Red Ribbon Feng Shui practitioner and stay-at-home mom with unmatched shopping prowess. She can find a deal anywhere and can be followed on Twitter (@fengshuiyourway).
No one has ever accused me of being a leap-ahead-and-jump-into-new-technology kind of gal. I’m way too worried, okay paranoid, about who’s trying to scam me on the internet to really be carefree about just buying stuff from Joe’s garage sale site. Or even Jane’s craft emporium, even though those are really cute lamps and I know just where I would put them.
Net+ prepaid card protects me online
In the last year, everything changed. I now buy crystals from the U.S., a dragon statue from Indonesia and more without a second thought. What happened? The Net+ virtual prepaid card came into my life is what happened. What does that mean? Read on grasshopper.
It’s the Net+ virtual prepaid card software that pops up on my computer screen whenever I’m ready to make a purchase. The card number and expiry date changes every time I use it, so no one (not even the hackers and sneaky internet frauds trying to cheat me out of my hard-earned cash) can take advantage of the credit card number that is used by that site for my purchase. It’s a disposable card, good for one purchase only.
Keep your money where it belongs, to yourself
What I like even more is that the Net+ virtual prepaid card is not linked to any of my banking information. I just created an account with NETELLER and deposited money there, which the card draws from. It’s like my own secure vault from which I do all of my internet shopping. Woohoo! Now I can buy holiday presents for my globally scattered family, send birthday gifts to my nieces directly and round up items for my business without worrying about who has my card number.
Did I mention that I can do all this at home, with no makeup on, bed head, in my pajamas and while my kids are doing their homework? Perfect!
Thank you NETELLER for creating a card that even a suspicious stay-at-home-mom like me will use.
What have you bought lately?
Today’s post was written by guest blogger Rachna. She is a Red Ribbon Feng Shui practitioner and stay-at-home mom with unmatched shopping prowess. She can find a deal anywhere and can be followed on Twitter (@fengshuiyourway).
Go for a virtual prepaid card when shopping online
Posted by Nicole in Prepaid cards, Products on October 15th, 2009
Today’s post was written by Nicole. She is the Marketing Manager for Consumer Products on our Brand and Group Marketing team.
Whether you love them or hate them, there’s no denying that credit cards have made our lives a whole lot easier when buying items online. But I’ve found that convenience can sometimes come at a price.
For instance, each month I’m in a panic to make sure that I pay my credit card bill on time so that I don’t incur the high interest charges. And I hate the idea of dealing with the headache of a fraudster getting a hold of my credit card number.
Better than a credit card for online payments
I’ve now found a better way to buy my favourite items online – I use my Net+ virtual prepaid card. Here’s why I think the virtual card is better:
1. Contains next-generation security features
Because the card generates one-time use card numbers, it means I get a new number each time I want to make a purchase online so I never have to worry that someone will get a hold of my card number.
2. Helps me to control my spending
Let’s face it – in today’s economy no one wants to rack up debt. I use my virtual prepaid card to make sure I don’t spend more money than I have. Plus I never have to worry about paying monthly interest charges.
3. Gives me direct access to the money in my NETELLER account
Since the card is linked directly to my account, I just put money in my account and voila, it’s instantly available on my card – no additional work needed.
4. Lets me set aside some “fun money”
Not sure about you, but I like to keep the money I have for monthly bills and entertainment separate. So I use my virtual card online to pay for games, music, books or whatever else makes me smile that day.
5. Makes online shopping simpler
I tap away on a keyboard all day, so when it comes to avoiding additional keystrokes I do. This is why I love that the virtual card auto-fills the payment web forms for me and since I downloaded NETELLER Desktop it also detects cashier pages for me as well. To see how it works, check out the prepaid virtual card demo.
So now you’ve read about why I think a virtual prepaid card is so great, why don’t you check it out for yourself? Just sign in to your account, go to the Net+ cards tab, get the virtual prepaid card and see if you agree.
What have you purchased online with your Net+ virtual prepaid card?




