Going to the world with no CC.

[Mrs. Bradbury]

Regarding the airfare, if you went through a travel agency, couldn't you pay cash directly to them? Or does that make it not budget friendly?

For what it's worth, I've been to more than one hotel (Disney & non) and have not given them a credit card or put money down. At Disney they have asked if I wanted to put a credit card on file to be able to charge back to the room, and I have just declined to do so.

 

[Irin997]

Actually that is not true. I booked flights on Airtran and Delta using the Bill Me Later option. I have also used my Paypal account to pay for flights.

Doesn't PayPal pull money from either a credit card or a bank account? Not sure if they pull from savings, but that would kind of defeat the purpose. The only other option I can think of would be to actually go to the airport ticket counter and purchase tix with cash.

Kind of mind-boggling to me that in this day and age people don't have checking accounts. I don't know what I'd do without mine! I pay every single bill through my online banking and I don't even get paper bills or statements anymore. I'm sure it works for some people but for me, I couldn't live without it!

 

[G's mommy]

Disney does not require a credit card to check-in. I pay cash all the time and decline to put a card on my account for charging. It's totally optional. Your room keys will state "not valid for charging". Rental cars is where you run into problems not having a cc. Most require a large cash deposit if you are renting with cash or a debit card. If you are staying onsite, skip the rental and just use Magical Express back and forth to the airport.

 

[scrapbookmommy]

I don't know if the preloaded visa will work because I believe you have to have your name on the card for check in at the hotel. But hey I could be wrong wouldn't be the first time. When are you going to Disney? Is it possible to open the checking account so you can purchase your flights and cancel the account when you return home?

Actually the preloaded Visa you get at Walmart are temporary. In about a week you get a card that has your name and an expiration date on it. You buy the card at WM or wherever and then register it with all your info.

 

[klynn]

Doesn't PayPal pull money from either a credit card or a bank account? Not sure if they pull from savings, but that would kind of defeat the purpose. The only other option I can think of would be to actually go to the airport ticket counter and purchase tix with cash

No, I had money sitting in my PayPal account from my eBay sales. Also, if you use Bill Me Later there is no credit card or bank accounts associated with it.

 

[Irin997]

No, I had money sitting in my PayPal account from my eBay sales. Also, if you use Bill Me Later there is no credit card or bank accounts associated with it.

Well right, but in order to even have a PayPal account, don't you need some source of funding, like a credit card or checking account? You can't exactly send them cash - or can you?

 

[JB2K]

Personally, I would get one of those reloadable Visa cards that you can get at WalMart for a small fee. There are way too many things that require credit cards.

I second this motion -- there will be some things you just can't do without flashing some sort of plastic.

 

[JB2K]

I did see some flights take Paypal so that would work for us. (Since it comes out of our savings and all.)

Why not get the PayPal MasterCard (which links to your account)?

However, as savings accounts go, they are heavily-regulated as to how many withdrawals one can make per account statement -- if I were you, I would check that out.

 

[klynn]

Well right, but in order to even have a PayPal account, don't you need some source of funding, like a credit card or checking account? You can't exactly send them cash - or can you?

I have had my PayPal account for so many years, I actually don't know the answer to your question. Sorry.

 

[richmo]

Don't know what airline you're using, but I know I've seen Southwest gift cards for sale in our local grocery stores. Then, of course, you could purchase those with whatever method you use to buy groceries.

 

[Irin997]

I was just looking at PayPal and found this:

During sign up, link your bank account, debit card, or credit card to your PayPal account. Don't worry, your financial information is secure. You can also add money to your PayPal account with MoneyPak.

Apparently with MoneyPak you can take your cash to a CVS, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, etc and buy a MoneyPak card (looks like a prepaid card), then go online and add the funds to your PayPal account. Pretty good solution for a cash-only family.

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/?&cmd=xpt/Marketing/demo/additionalpayment/GreenDot-outside

 

[Disney-Kim]

ALL hotels require a credit card/debit card "on file"

I dont understand how the OP can not have a checking account with debit card? Do you cash your paychecks and carry a lot of cash around?

Disney does NOT require a credit card....you can leave cash or have no charging privleges/phone use

and who are we to judge why they don't have a checking

 

[Disney-Kim]

I was just wondering how many people are like us and have no credit cards. We also don't have checking anymore so our debit card is useless. We do have a couple of savings accounts but haven't gotten debit cards for those yet.

I just want to make sure that we will be ok and aren't being totally out of our minds for going without plastic. (If this is the case I have plenty of time toget a debit card for one of the savings accounts.)

If you do, how do you do it?

We have paid for our package with money orders so that's not an issue. I'm just wondering how I'm going to book flights and then I don't know if there is something I'm not thinking of that I may need a card for. I did see some flights take Paypal so that would work for us. (Since it comes out of our savings and all.)

Thanks for your help!

just wanted to let you know that savings only offer ATM cards to get cash from an ATM...you have to have a Checking acct to get a Debit card...

I suggest getting a gift card Visa for a set amount...that would be way easier than cash.

and Paypal offers a debit card for access to your Paypal money.

 

[kim929]

Do you mean checking or savings for the atm card?[/QUOT

If you have a savings account you can only have an atm card, they will not give you a debit card for any savings account.

 

[JB2K]

I was just looking at PayPal and found this:



Apparently with MoneyPak you can take your cash to a CVS, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, etc and buy a MoneyPak card (looks like a prepaid card), then go online and add the funds to your PayPal account. Pretty good solution for a cash-only family.

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/?&cmd=xpt/Marketing/demo/additionalpayment/GreenDot-outside

The MoneyPak is a component of the various "Green Dot" cards -- including the prepaid/reloadable Visa sold at Walmart (which tends to be less expensive in fees than the same product purchased at the major grocery/drug chains).

Again, if you're traveling and don't have plastic, this is an easy way to get it without all the commitment...

 

[mickeyluv]

I have a Wal-Mart Visa reloadable card and have a set amount of money that goes on that card every 2weeks through direct deposit with my employer. I love it! You can sign up for them to send you messages daily on you cell phone of what your balance is. You can also go into just about any walmart and put money on your card for a $3 fee.

Also, you can go to Walgreens and buy the Disney Gift card and pay your balance for your Disney reservation with that (that is if your staying on property).

Good Luck!!

 

[donalduck]

i was just wondering how many people are like us and have no credit cards. We also don't have checking anymore so our debit card is useless. We do have a couple of savings accounts but haven't gotten debit cards for those yet.

I just want to make sure that we will be ok and aren't being totally out of our minds for going without plastic. (if this is the case i have plenty of time toget a debit card for one of the savings accounts.)

if you do, how do you do it?

We have paid for our package with money orders so that's not an issue. I'm just wondering how i'm going to book flights and then i don't know if there is something i'm not thinking of that i may need a card for. I did see some flights take paypal so that would work for us. (since it comes out of our savings and all.)

thanks for your help!

cash is king

 

[angelat]

Most of my bills come from savings so I put what I need to in there and then I cash the rest. If I have something not set up to come from savings, I do it the old fashion way and get a money order.

Credit cards got me in trouble when I was in college and my husband and I ran into some overdraft fees a few times when I was a SAHM and decided the checking account should be closed also. We have much more money now actually when we don't have anything but cash.

I totally love this idea actually. I applaud you for doing it. For those who say, why not a checking or why not have a debit card, etc...15 years ago when I opened my first checking account with my first job, I didn't have a Debit card, just a MAC card (remember those? LOL!) I had to go to the ATM or bank to withdrawl money and when it was gone, it was gone.
Sometimes simple is better. Kudos to you!

BTW...I've stayed in a hotel (not Disney though) and just paid everything up front and didn't have to put a cc on file. I also have rented through Alamo at MCO a couple of times with my debit card and they don't put a hold on the card. So, you could go the pre-paid card route with that if you want/need to. Or ask about their cash option. I do think you need to put a deposit down with a cash transaction though.

 

[pigletto]

Our last trip we didn't use a credit card. We put a thousand in cash on our hotel account when we checked in and had charging privledges. We also paid by money order before we left (would have used cheques but ours come from a Canadian account so it was a hassle.)

Flights were a wedding gift, but I have seen that you can use paypal or southwest gift cards.

The only tricky thing would be a rental car.. we didn't need one so it wasn't an issue for us.

ETA.. OP has already booked her trip but for anyone else, even when you make your initial Disney reservation they give you a grace period to mail in a payment for deposit, it doesn't have to be on a credit card.

 

[deerhart]

The only thing I think you need to have some sort of plastic for is those emergency issues that COULD arise.

FLight is delayed, you get stuck somewhere and need to get a hotel at 2am but you don't have enough cash left over to pay for it.

Someone gets sick and you need a prescription but not enough cash

Heaven forbid all your cash gets stolen or lost.

DH and I will take some cash, our credit card, and our debit card and our checkbook (always locked in safe). We will each carry our debit card with us (I carry the cc), and then we split the cash (if it isn't locked in the room safe).

That way IF something should happen and one of us loses our stuff, the other still has everything. Also, I have instant access to both my checking and savings account through my debit card.