5 Excellent Reasons to Own a Debit Card

By Debbie Robbyns

Debit cards have become a modern day necessity in recent years. Not having one in your wallet is like living in the in the past which was depicted in yesterdays commercial on the television. In one scene people were queuing up at the cashiers and moving on after paying. The scene then changes where everything stops, the sky turns grey and the sun sets. An old lady pulls out her check book and when she starts writing her check the surrounding changes into the 1980s. I have put together 5 reasons why you should have debit cards in cased you are still living in the past like the old lady in the advertisement.

1. Most banks offer their debit card holders with an online account as well. This means that you get to check your transaction almost anytime at anywhere to your convenience. Debit card transaction details appear almost immediately a day after your purchase. There are no surprises to where your money goes as you will now have a detailed trail to all your transactions. These days some banks also offer guarantee on internet transactions and online purchases just like credit cards.

2. No delays in transaction details. Unlike credit cards, most debit card transaction turns up immediately the day after your purchase. These days, you can easily check your transaction details from your online account. This will allow you to keep a closer track of your spending and potentially helping you to manage your financials.

3. Debit card deducts your money from your account immediately upon a purchase. This will massively reduce any spur of the moment spending as you cant afford to spend what you dont have. Debit cards triumph in this aspect as it forces the individual to ponder about his/her financials before committing to a purchase as unlike credit card you dont get to borrow upfront.

4. Another type of debit card that does not require any bank account is called a prepaid debit card. These prepaid cards work like a phone card where you pay as you go and expires when the amount finishes. The advantage of having such a card is that you are not required to undergo any credit check and no interest fees are charged. This card will be suitable for travellers, free lancers and people with bad credit history.

5. Owning a debit card is a good practise ground to mould financial discipline. In contrary to credit cards you only spend what you have and because you are not borrowing money up front to pay for your purchases, there are no interest repayments or hefty late penalty fees involve.

There are other good reasons to own a debit card, but the ones here are the best we can think of. Of course, before you do anything of a financial nature, be sure you know the good and the bad. Also ask the institution about reporting and record keeping as well as delays in processing.

About the Author:

Debbie Robbyns is the author of Personal Finance 2009. Drop by her website for insightful and simple to pickup personal finance tips for your everyday lives.