With a cost of living crisis taking over
the world and many people suffering from bad credit - the use of prepaid
cards has skyrocketed. You can use a prepaid card in most places and even as a
direct deposit method, meaning they work much in the same way as a debit card
would.
Over the past few years, one card has stood
out from the rest. The Vanilla Visa card
has received a lot of attention, but is it the best-prepaid card out
there? We take a look
Why
use a Prepaid Card?
If you're unable to open a bank account or
you're looking for an easy way to control your spending, prepaid cards may be
for you. No credit cheques are required to obtain one, and you can only
withdraw or spend the amount you have deposited on it.
Essentially, it's a pay-as-you-go debit
card. There is no risk of debt or expensive overdraft charges. You can also
obtain a prepaid card if you lack proof of address - which you cannot do with a
debit card.
With a credit card, you are borrowing money
that you have to pay back with interest. To be able to get your hands on one,
you must have good credit. Using a credit card responsibly will improve your
credit, but it's very hard to get one unless you already have decent credit -
creating a bit of a catch-22.
A good credit rating can help massively
when it comes to financing things and getting good rates when applying for
things like mortgages and car loans. Using a credit card in an irresponsible
way can lead to terrible credit, debt, and for some, overspending.
Where
can you use Them?
You will have no issue finding places to
use them. You can withdraw cash from ATMs, pay for food in restaurants, or pump
gas at the station. More and more places accept prepaid cards these days. They
can even
be used to make casino deposits online if you enjoy a gamble and want to
keep your betting money separate from your living money.
A
Good Tool for Teaching Financial Responsibility
Prepaid cards are also an excellent way to teach
your children how to be financially responsible. Rather than linking them
up to your credit account and having them learn the hard way, you can load up a
certain amount of money and give your kids a timeframe on how long you want it
to last.
You can do this comfortably and safely, as
there is little risk of your child getting themselves into any financial
trouble with a prepaid card.
Which Prepaid Card Should You Get?
There are lots of different options when it
comes to picking a prepaid card. Visa, American Express, PayPal, Walmart, and
FamZoo are just some of the companies that offer them. If you're looking for
the best prepaid credit card with no monthly fee, Bluebird by American Express
is the card for you.
If you're looking for cash back, then you
can get yourself an American Express Serve Cash Back. The best-prepaid card for
cash reloads is the American Express Serve FREE reloads offer. An excellent
card for families is the FamZoo Prepaid Card. If you're a Walmart shopper or
PayPal user, then you will want the Walmart MoneyCard or PayPal Prepaid
Mastercard.
Vanilla
Visa Gift Card
Vanilla Visa is a good option for those
looking to open a prepaid card account. VISA is a hugely respected and
reputable company, so it's only natural that their prepaid credit cards would
be of the same quality as their other card options. They can be great gifts if
you're not sure what someone would like for Christmas and you want a loved one
to get something they truly love.
They can use the Vanilla Visa in most
stores. There is a fee to
activate the Vanilla Visa, so plan ahead if you're gifting it to someone.
The recipient pays no fee. It's also important to note that the card isn't
reloadable like some other prepaid cards - meaning you can't add additional
funds once the gifted amount runs out.
Prepaid cards cater to a lot of different
needs, and they are being used increasingly worldwide.