Debit cards: Pretend credit cards or a convenient financial tool? Both!
Ten years ago, debit cards were unheard of. But today, you get one when you open your checking account.
We have a lot of things today that we didn't have ten years ago--iPods, the ability to pay-at-the-pump for gas, self-checkout lines at stores, keychain credit cards and more. Let's take the pay-at-the-pump example. There was a time when that feature was new that you could only pay with your credit card. But since debit cards have arrived on the scene, you can use those to pay at the pump as well. In fact, almost anything you can do with a credit card, you can also do with debit cards. There are exceptions, however. Some things--like car rental, for instance--still require a credit card in case you don't have enough money in your bank account to cover the cost of the rental car, especially if the rental car plan charges by the mile.
Still, the convenience of using debit cards can't be beat. It's a lot faster to swipe your debit card and type in your PIN than it is to write out a check. In fact, this is even faster than using credit cards.
There's a difference between debit cards and prepaid debit cards. Prepaid debit cards are similar to prepaid credit cards--they both help you control your spending. They can also be given as gift cards. These prepaid cards only allow you to spend the amount you paid ahead of time, and they're reloadable. If you know you have a tendency to overspend or would like to have more control over your spending, then either of these cards are good for you.
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