A prepaid card is an excellent solution for people who don’t want to check accounts or simply can’t get a credit card. Prepaid cards can also be gifted as a substitute for cash. However, prepaid cards are different from traditional credit and debit cards. They can cost you a lot of money if you don’t know what you’re getting into.

Read The Fine Print
Prepaid cards come with charges that is never mentioned outright. Before picking up a card read all the terms and conditions that come with it. You can ask the card issuer directly about any questions that you have. Some cards come with monthly fees, some others come with a monthly charge for not using, and some cards even have limitations on the maximum number of ATM withdrawals in a month. Therefore, before getting a card, it’s important that you have read through everything before you make a decision.

Monitor The Activities Of Your Card
Take care of your prepaid card activities since these cards don’t generate statements like regular debit or credit cards. That’s because prepaid cards are nothing like debit cards. Here, you can keep track of your spending another way. If you register your card on the issuer’s website, then you can get email and SMS notifications for every transaction that’s made on the card.

Look For An Alternative
It’s possible to wipe all the money from prepaid and gift cards. That’s because not everyone accepts prepaid cards as regular currency. In that case, a lot of gift cards can be purchased, and that can be used as a way to pay bills, like groceries. It’s convenient and easy since you don’t add any credit to an existing credit card.
Before buying a prepaid card, know everything about them. The fees for a prepaid card should be a minimum at best. Pattern all your expenses and where you spend the most. Therefore, choosing the right card would be finding one that has very minimal fees or no charges at all.
If you use ATMs regularly, try to pick a card which doesn’t set a withdrawal limit. If you use your card for a number of transactions, try to pick a card that doesn’t have an upper limit on the number of transactions.
Prepaid cards can be incredibly helpful if you know how to use them. They’re easy, safe, and you don’t have to worry about going past a credit limit. Even better, they’re good tools to help teach kids about the importance of spending and saving money. If you find yourself with a need for a prepaid card, then look into them and see which one is the right one for you.