Posts Tagged controlled spending
Keep track of your online spending with your eWallet
I’m a big aromatherapy buff, but buying supplies in local shops can be expensive. That’s why I love, love, love to buy essential oils online. Everything’s so much cheaper if you know the right websites. The problem is, you can’t buy online using cash. And left to my own devices I would probably own every oil out there… Last year my credit card took a big hit when I got carried away.
I stay on budget with Net+
Ever since I started working at NETELLER, my essential oil addiction has stopped being an issue. That’s because I figured out I can use my Net+ Prepaid MasterCard® to shop anywhere I want online.
By loading my NETELLER account with my personal budget for the month, I only spend what I can afford. Which is great news for my credit rating – and my peace of mind.
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.
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Loading ...Paper or plastic?
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.
I remember years back when I went on a holiday to Germany and France, armed with a bunch of Eurocheques and an EC card, the now defunct European, improved travellers cheque. The system had to give up when the popularity of international credit cards made the system obsolete, though in Germany the system continued as an ATM card on the Maestro network.
An imperfect solution
The original travellers cheque is still alive and fairly well, available at some banks and exchange bureaus. But they suffer from many of the same problems the Eurocheques had and maybe even more:
- You have to buy travellers cheques before you depart
- You buy the amount in the denominations you expect to need
- They are not easily redeemable everywhere, so when you need to cash them in you may have to look around a bit
Add to this that you pay a premium on top of the exchange rate, you will usually pay a fee to cash them in and they are only available in certain currencies. If your travellers cheques are not in the currency of the country where you cash them in, you will lose even more of your hard-earned cash to exchange fees. However, they do have 1 advantage: you can get them replaced if they are lost or stolen, even without travel insurance.
Pick up a Net+ Prepaid Card
I have personally been using the Net+ Prepaid MasterCard® for a while now in several different countries and paying in several different currencies. It has many advantages over travellers cheques. Perhaps the biggest advantage is the fact that I can use Net+ to pay at many locations. The Net+ card works at ATMs when I need cash, but it also works in hotels, stores, restaurants and onboard all the ships I’ve been travelling with lately, which reduces my need to carry large amounts of cash.
I have set up my NETELLER account and Net+ card in my local currency, which makes it easy to keep tabs on costs and also means that no matter what foreign currency I pay in, I will only incur a single exchange fee. But even if I hadn’t made this choice I could usually still spend less on exchange fees than I would have with travellers cheques.
As for security, the card is protected by the Chip & PIN system, and only the funds in your NETELLER account are available for withdrawal or purchase with certain limits to how much can be spent or withdrawn within any 24-hour period. Do remember to carry the Net+ support phone number and remember the details needed to cancel the card if you should have your card stolen (and don’t forget to report the theft to local police as well).
Control your spending with a prepaid card
If you’re going to be travelling for a while, for instance that dream trip around the world, you could set up bank transfers from your bank account to your NETELLER account at an interval you choose. This can help control your spending as well as limit any loss you might incur from theft. But if you find you need more money than you had planned, you might also be able to make additional transfers while you are on the road. 1 other smart feature is that if you have close family or friends with NETELLER accounts, they can quickly and easily send you more money if you run into problems, without having to pay high fees.
Final travel tips
As always when travelling abroad I would recommend taking out travel insurance or making sure you are completely covered by your existing policies. Not only can you get money or other valuables replaced, but if something unforseen happens, like the recent grounding of all planes in northern Europe, or if you need to go to a doctor or even a hospital, your policy will cover it.
And above all, always remember:
- Never carry around large sums of cash and don’t let anyone see what you have inside your wallet
- Never let anyone see or know your PIN
- If at all possible, never let your Net+ or other debit and credit cards out of sight. This can be hard at bars and restaurants but unfortunately apply even more so in these locations where skimming of cards can happen in mere seconds. Luckily the increasing use of the chip function eliminates this risk.
- Make sure you have the phone numbers and details available if you should need to close your cards.
- And above all of this, always use common sense when travelling
Safe journeys this summer!
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Shop online securely with a Net+ prepaid virtual card
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).
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Fund your eWallet and transfer money online
This post was written by Lea K. She is the Manager of Consumer Marketing and currently manages all customer marketing programs. This is the third in a series of posts where Lea will be talking about the benefits of using a NETELLER eWallet. You can read the first post here, and the second post here.
OK, so now you know what an eWallet is and why you’d need one. The next logical step is figuring out how you spend your hard-earned money.
Different ways to use your NETELLER account
By now you know that you can send money to multiple merchants, but I like to use this account as my “travel budget.” I simply transfer a little money each month into my NETELLER account to help save for my annual vacation. Since my account is in Euro (and I’m planning a trip to Greece next summer), I can save in the currency that I’ll be using on my trip (with no surprises or huge credit card bills to pay off post-vacation).
I’m planning on using my Net+ card to pay for hotels while in Greece and I can easily access funds at local ATMs that bear the MasterCard® symbol.
Control your spending with Net+
You can use your Net+ card to pay anywhere MasterCard is accepted. It’s quick and easy to do. Plus, consider the money in your NETELLER eWallet account your “discretionary” funds. It’s a great way to control your spending. It’s also private. No statements are sent to your home address. This includes your Net+ usage too so there’s no paper trail of your shopping habits. Go ahead and buy those shoes in every colour!
Send money around the world
I also send money to family. My niece, who lives in Mexico, is going to be 1 year old in December, but since I can’t be there I’m sending her money (via her Dad of course) for her birthday. This is the quickest, safest and cheapest way I’ve found to send her cash for her birthday.
Now that you know all about the NETELLER eWallet, I’d love to hear how will you use it.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Hassle-free travel with my Net+ prepaid cards
We’re excited to welcome 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.
As a travel writer, I need to book numerous hotels, sightseeing tours and tickets depending on where I’m traveling. Like many of you, I end up paying for all of these with credit and debit cards.
Protect your cash and pay with plastic
From a consumer standpoint, it is better to use plastic to pay, since you’re usually better protected than when you pay with cash or use a wire transfer service. Also, many hotels require a credit card upon check-in, though some will accept a cash deposit instead. But having your fun money tied up in a costly deposit may limit daily excursions or the number of times you dine out.
In most cases you’re not punished for paying with plastic, however, in some European countries like Denmark, Sweden and the UK, customers can be charged for paying with credit or debit cards, regardless of the issuer. National laws in these participating countries require stores to clearly display the added fee and are limited on how much extra they can charge. Rest assured, tourist-friendly stores rarely add any fees.
So what do you do if you aren’t able to get a credit card, or like me, don’t feel entirely safe spending on a card that comes with a high limit and interest charges?
Benefits of a credit card minus the risk
This is where the Net+ physical and virtual prepaid cards come in handy. For one, the physical prepaid card is accepted worldwide and protects you with chip and PIN secure technology. Plus, I have first-hand experience that NETELLER does indeed keep an eye out for suspicious transactions and thus minimizes credit risk even further. It also gives you the same benefits as a credit card that you would use in the “real world” to buy airline tickets, shop or book hotels.
The Net+ virtual prepaid card has added security in that it generates a one-time use number that can never be used again. That means your virtual card number is always protected and it becomes unusable or worthless to anyone who attempts to intercept your information online.
Traveling and transacting with my virtual prepaid card
I’ve really been enjoying the convenience that my Net+ virtual prepaid card offers me. For instance, it works well for reserving hotel rooms, although its expiry date means it’s only valid for around a month.
It’s also great to pay for tickets and tours online, but be careful as you may be required to show or swipe the physical version of the Net+ card you used for payment when picking up your tickets. The virtual card also works well for buying guidebooks online that you might want for your next big trip.
First class acceptance
I have used the Net+ prepaid card to buy several airline tickets and have had absolutely no problems. With that said, you should be able to buy tickets anywhere else the card is accepted. Hotels are more than happy to accept the card, as are most stores and ticket vending machines for public transit that you might come into contact with as a tourist.
Why cash is still good
Using a credit or debit card on your holiday can almost eliminate the need to carry cash, but not completely. The main reason is that not every store, restaurant or office accepts credit or debit for payment. For example, in Denmark some merchants won’t accept international credit cards, only the national DanKort.
When it’s time to make a payment, some online payment systems that handle credit card transactions may be temporarily offline. Again this has happened a few times in Denmark, as well as in other places, so always have some cash on-hand. With that said, still feel safe with your Net+ card in your wallet, knowing it’s a widely-accepted, secure method of payment and will enable you to carry less cash.
Tell me where you have used your Net+ physical or virtual prepaid cards.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Go for a virtual prepaid card when shopping online
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?
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Travelling to Croatia with Net+ – the verdict
Today’s post was written by Sarah. She is a Marketing Manager and currently works to develop business-to-business programs for NEOVIA merchants. This is the third and final post she’s written about using her Net+ card while travelling through Croatia.
The one thing about Croatia is, it’s a very cash-driven economy and prepaid cards are neither widely accepted nor really preferred. This concerned me at the beginning, since I am not generally someone who carries around hoards of cash on my outings. The good news is, there are ATM machines all over the place, so access to cash is abundant. And I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to use my Net+ card to withdraw cash from the ATMs.
This may not be the cheapest way to get money, but it was more reliable and safer than my other options. Even with the exchange rates working against me, my Net+ card was miles ahead of my other cards. And because it’s prepaid, the Net+ card kept my credit in line so I didn’t come home to hundreds of dollars of debt. It kept me in control of my funds.
So if you’re ready to take your travels beyond the all-inclusive scene and want to keep your funds safe, I suggest you try out the Net+ card. It’s quick to sign up for and easy to use.
Happy Trails
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Travelling to Croatia with Net+ – relishing it
Today’s post was written by Sarah. She is a Marketing Manager and currently works to develop business-to-business programs for NEOVIA merchants. This is the second in a series of posts about using her Net+ card while travelling through Croatia.
For my money, there’s no better way to enjoy beautiful weather than having a drink on a patio. It’s as far away from sitting in a cubicle as you can get, and the perfect introduction to a new country. That’s why after I flew into Croatia from Canada, I decided to ignore my jet lag and head to the cafés as soon as I dropped off my bags at the hotel.
I started off with a nice iced coffee, but I soon found myself getting into the wobbly pops. As the bevvies started working their magic, I looked around with contentment. One thing I love about travelling to Europe is how highly valued downtime is. People don’t sit around locked up in their homes watching T.V.; they are out socializing, meeting for coffees, catching up and enjoying life. Living in a city where it’s freezing 8 months of the year, this is truly a luxury.
After a couple of days of patio living, however, my cash flow started slowing to a trickle. I was a bit leery about combining open credit with nights on the town, and yet, carrying bundles of cash around a strange city didn’t seem ideal either. Out came the Net+ card.
With the Net+ card, I enjoyed the convenience of accessing funds from ATMs when they were available, and using it as a prepaid card when they weren’t.
I kept thinking that this card would have really come in handy on a lot of my previous trips, as it kept me in control of my spending. Something about the vacation air makes me think I’m richer than I actually am and spend more then I really need to. And coming home to debt is never a fun thing.
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