How to Safely Shop Online and Pay With CASH!

Imagine the heartbreak of waking up on Dec. 26 with a raging debt hangover—an all-too-common after-Christmas condition. Been there, done that, and live to tell!

Of course, you promise to pay the balance in full the minute the statement arrives, but who are we kidding here? That’s an easy promise to make but hard to keep—especially at this time of year.

Perhaps you were already carrying a balance on every card in your wallet, so now all of those new purchases exacerbate the problem by plunging you even deeper into debt. Worse, you don’t even know for sure how much you spent because who keeps track when you pay for everything with plastic?

Just imagine if you keep your promise that this year will be an all-cash Christmas—that you lock those credit cards away where they will be safe from you.

As you wake up the day after Christmas, you’ll be heading into the New Year with a much different attitude. No excuses, no hiding the holiday bills; no worries, and no regrets.

I’ve got good news for everyone, not only those already carrying credit card balances. This year really can be an all-cash Christmas. You can do it and make your cash stretch even further when you take advantage of the deals and free shipping when you shop online.

You can shop with CASH at Amazon, Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, and hundreds of online shopping sites with absolutely no credit card or debit card required.

Amazon

Step 1: Purchase an Amazon Gift Card

Stop into the nearest Walgreens drugstore (or any number of supermarkets, drugstores, and convenience stores nationwide, which sell Gift Cards in denominations from $15 to $500 for all major retailers with online shopping sites.) Find an Amazon Gift Card. Pay for it with CASH.

Step 2: Deposit It to Your Amazon Account

Go to Amazon.com and log in to your account (create a new account if you do not already have one.) Go to Redeem a [Amazon] Gift Card. Follow the simple instructions to add your Amazon Gift Card’s unique claim code to your account. It is super easy, and takes only a minute.

Now those funds are available immediately and held safely in your account; will not expire, have no activation or maintenance fees, and will automatically apply to your next Amazon order (unless you select a different payment method at checkout).

Wasn’t that easy?

Target, Walmart, Kohl’s, Etc.

You can also use the same tactics to shop online with cash at other retailers. Just follow the steps above for Amazon. The process is the same:

Step 1

Using cash, purchase a Gift Card for your online retailer of choice from a store that sells Gift Cards such as Kroger, Walgreens, Safeway, CVS, etc.

Step 2

Add the Gift Card to your online account at that store’s website. Do this first before you start shopping.

(You’ll see a field at Check Out to pay with a gift card, but that is not for store’s gift card but rather where one would add a 3rd party gift card, i.e. MasterCard Gift Card or Visa PrePaid Debit Card, which by the way comes with hefty fees.)

Target.com

1. Sign in.
2. Navigate to your Name
3. Select Account
4. Select Gift Cards
5. Select Save a New Gift Card or the + sign.
6. Input the Gift Card # and Access code
7. Add it to your account

Walmart.com

1. Select Account.
2. Select Wallet.
3. Select Add new payment method
4. Select the payment type
5. Enter your details
6. Select Save Card

Kohls.com

1. Sign in.
2. Navigate to Wallet.
3. Select Store Kohl’s Gift Cards
4. Add Gift Card # and PIN

Others

The routine is generally the same. You go to that store’s online shopping site, sign in, go to your account and look for a place to upload or add that store’s Gift Card.

Other Ways to Spend CASH Online

Coinstar

Got a lot of loose change? You can take your change and cash to any of the more than 20,000 Coinstar kiosks in grocery stores and have it converted to a Gift Card (Amazon is only one of the dozens of retail and restaurant options)—with no fee deducted. But if you convert to cash, a hefty 11.9% fee will be deducted.

Every penny you put into the machine will be added to your Amazon (or other) Gift Card. Follow the steps above to add these funds to your Amazon or another favorite online retailer account.

Western Union

You can purchase an Amazon Claim Code with cash in any amount from $25 to $2,000 at 42,000 Western Union Agent locations across the US. Add the Claim Code to your Amazon account (follow Step 2 Amazon instructions above).

Moneygram

Visit a participating MoneyGram agent location (there are more than 350,000 worldwide) to purchase an Amazon Gift Card claim code with cash and no fees. Follow Step 2 above.

There you go. Simple, convenient ways you can enjoy the convenience of Amazon shopping while still experiencing an all-cash Christmas!

Recap

• Buy an Amazon or other online Retailer’s Gift Card with cash and use it to pay for your online purchases at those sites.
• Amazon Gift Cards are for sale for any amount from $15 to $500 at: Walgreens, supermarkets, drugstores, discount stores—just about everywhere
• Coinstar machines in grocery stores will accept cash and coins and payout in Amazon and dozens of other retailers’ Gift Card with no fees deducted
• Western Union locations sell Amazon Claim Codes, which work the same as an Amazon Gift Card
• So do the 350,000 Moneygram locations worldwide

 

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