HOW TO BUY THINGS ONLINE

Online shopping generally takes credit cards as a form of payment. If you would prefer not to pay by credit card or do not have a credit card, the online vendor may take payment another way, such as by check or debit card. Online payment services such as PayPal can also electronically transfer money to and from a seller's and buyer's bank accounts for online purchases. Try these methods to buy something online without a credit card. Steps 1Check what alternative forms of payment the online vendor accepts.You may be able to pay by mailing a personal check or electronically transferring the necessary money. 2Write a personal check.Follow any specifications from the vendor as to who the check should be made out to. *.Add up any shipping costs or taxes with the item's price. Put the total figure as the check's amount. *.Mail the dated and signed check to the vendor. 3Pay with a debit card.Try asking your bank if you can get a debit card with a major credit card company's name on it. Having a credit card company such as Visa or MasterCard on your debit card may allow the card to be accepted in place of a credit card for online shopping. *.Make sure you have enough money ready in your bank's checking account to pay for your purchase. *.Have your debit card payment automatically deducted from your checking account when buying your item. 4Use an electronic payment service.PayPal, for example, is a popular website that can be used to handle electronic payments sent to and from a bank account when making online purchases. *.Sign up for an account to use the service if needed. Verify your account or complete its setup by following instructions sent to your email address as necessary. *.Decide whether to link a bank account, debit card or a credit card to your payment account if directed to do so. Use money in your bank account to pay for the purchase. *.Choose the online payment service as your payment option from the vendor's website if available. *.Log in to your account to pay for or order the online item if necessary. 5Consider asking a friend or relative to buy your online item with their credit card.Pay them back in a manner you both agree to, such as with cash, money order, or a personal check. Tips *.Google Checkout is another service that can be used to buy items online without entering credit card information if it is offered by online vendors. *.You may want to fold a sheet of paper around a check to be mailed before putting it in its envelope. The paper will help prevent the check from being seen so easily through the thin envelope. *.A "Personal" PayPal account can be used for shopping online. Warnings *.For a "Student" PayPal account, you need to transfer money from your bank into your PayPal account to use it. *.Do not forget to note your check number, its monetary amount, and what it was used to pay for in your checkbook or elsewhere for your records.