Debit cards: the online shopper's safety net
Shopping online is relatively new in the scheme of things. It's a craze that begun with just businesses selling their products (for example, a Cash Doctors payday loan). Now it's a world-wide phenomenon that, thanks to websites such as eBay, now anyone and everyone can sell anything they like on the internet!
I'm not kidding, here's a selection of crazy things that have been sold on the internet (you're not going to believe it, but these were actually sold):
- A Russian test space shuttle
- Advertising space...on a man's body.
- Ghost in a jar
- An air guitar
- A serial killer's fingernails
Weird right?
You may be wondering what this has to do with anything Cash Doctors and short term cash fixes. Well, nothing really, but the point is with so much to buy on the internet, it is very clear that people are using their credit cards willy-nilly for (some at times very absurd) internet purchases.
As of December 2008, Australia's credit card bill was estimated to be at a total of nearly $43 billion, and these strange, flight of fancy purchases are most definitely contributing to it. Some may say people have gotten a little out of control with their credit purchasing.
Now I know full well that there are times where certain products or items are only available on the internet, or are much cheaper when bought online than in a retail store. The kind of purchases you can afford if you were to go out and buy it from a shop, but because it's online the need for a credit card is extremely high.
The thing is it's these little purchases that seem to add up to a surprisingly high total over time, all the while gaining interest, leaving people in debt that they can't afford. But here's where I come up with the goods...
Debit cards: they're the answer to all chronic internet shoppers' problems!
This kind of card allows you to have all the freedom of a credit card; meanwhile, you avoid the debt that creeps up on you at the end of each month.
Here's how it works.
You can make purchases over the phone, on the internet, at credit-card-only retailers, basically anywhere that you would want or need to use a credit card. The difference is that the purchase is deducted from your bank account, which means that you can only spend what you can afford. No bills and interest charges!
This is perfect for things like buying gifts, event tickets, and paying bills (to name just a few. A simple transaction and the hassle is over, you're not reminded of it at the end of the month.
Most banks offer some form of debit card whether it be Visa or MasterCard, so for more information give your bank a call, they'll be able to tell you everything you need to know about their debit cards on offer.
So instead of racking up bills on your credit card because that's the only form of payment you can use, sign up for a debit card and save yourself not only money, but also a little piece of mind.
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