Many people, especially students, are rejected after filling out a credit card application because of poor (or lack of) credit. As you may know, a strong credit history is very important for your future in order to take out student loans, buy a new car and when you plan to buy a house. Luckily, there are prepaid debit cards.
A prepaid credit card account is opened by depositing money from your checking account (or parents checking account), into the prepaid credit card account. A prepaid credit card can be used anywhere a regular credit card is accepted. One of the major advantages of a prepaid credit card is that since you deposited your own money into the card, it will never cause you to go into debt. The money on your prepaid credit card is yours, and once you spend it all you have to make another deposit to use the card again. There are no bills, APR and usually no annual fee attached to a prepaid credit card.
Choosing the Right Prepaid Card
Review the prepaid debit cards below to find the right card for your needs. Some cards offer different benefits, and may have different set up fees. Review and compare the benefits of each card so you can select the best card for your situation.
First, you will have to pay a small fee to set up your prepaid credit card account. The amount varies, but it is usually less than $15 dollars. In addition, you may have to pay a fee when you deposit money into your prepaid credit card account. If you have bad credit, these fees are more than worth it. You are investing in your future, as your prepaid credit card will help you regain positive credit with little risk involved.
Don't have a Checking Account?
As mentioned above, unless your parents are willing to link your prepaid credit card to their checking account, you will need to set one up yourself in order to put money into your new prepaid credit card. Setting one up is simple and can be done in a few minutes.