Do you spend money when you shouldn’t? Credit cards seem to be made just for you? Budgets? You don’t need no stinkin’ budget… If you can’t seem to limit yourself by willpower alone you may need some extra help in the form of Intacard. While the idea of prepaying has been around for awhile, Intacard does something a little different by being an easy to use prepaid debit card that is not linked to a traditional bank account or credit card. Just transfer money to it and go. As their website says: “Intacard is the easy way to pay for whatever you are “inta” either online or offline.”

Intacard may be just a simple prepaid debit card but in addition it has a few good features that may peak your interest. For starters, approval is a no-brainer. Bad credit and under 18 are welcome. There are also 3 ways to get cash onto your card once you have it. Direct bank deposit, place funds via a regular credit card or go to an Australian post office to place funds (this one is a little harder to do if you’re based in the States). You can also upload your custom design to make your card unique.

Currently the card is only available with Cirrus and Maestro, with Visa and Mastercard coming soon. Did I mention Intacard is based in Australia? But don’t be disappointed yet Americans: Read more…

For many students, college is the first time out in the real world and mastering money is a major milestone on the road to independence. Some rise to the challenge while others stumble slightly, while still others fall flat on their face and need reconstructive surgery to repair the damage. To avoid being the latter, here are the most common student money mistakes and how to avoid the financial turmoil caused by them.

Not knowing enough about credit cards before you get one. Many credit card companies sponsor giveaways and other events at universities. The whole point is to push credit cards on unsuspecting students. Don’t fall for it! These cards usually have good introductory rates but when a couple months go by the real rates kick in, you’ll be left wondering how your $200 balance turned into $600 in the blink of an eye. If you want to get a credit card, read Choosing Your First Credit Card to get good tips on what to look for in a card. Read more…

If you are a first year college student at a university, you probably get at least 5 opportunities a day to get a credit card. If you have resisted that free t-shirt or frisbee, good for you. You should base getting your first card on solid information, not free swag. Here are some things you should be aware of when you are ready to take the plunge and get your first credit card.

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