Doesn't your bank issue credit cards? I got one for free with my student bank account. You'd be surprised how handy they are when you're in a foreign country for a longer time.
It does. It also collects ridiculous fees for transaction to a non-EU country. To donate 10 USD I would have to pay 18 USD total. 'Sensible' rates start around 100-150 USD where I would only need to spend about 20 USD in fees. Yeah, I was also surprised. I'll look around for a different bank, but I don't think will look any better. There's also one fucked-up thing about distinction between debit and credit card. As someone who does not work (and my registered tutor income/business does not count, I've checked) I can only get a debit card. These mean nothing to most internet transfers or stores, being the main reason I'm using PayPal instead. Anyway, thank you for input. Much appreciated, as it at least got me to go look for a more viable alternative (i.e. different bank, asking someone I know in Germany and paying them back etc). But I feel like my whining, because it's largely that at this point, detracts from a much more important topic that steve put out.Doesn't your bank issue credit cards?
Woah, that's quite steep. Regular credit cards here are, usually, around 20-40€ per year in fees with little to no transaction fee. Have you looked into prepaid credit cards like Visa? Pretty much all stores and services see it as a regular credit card, but you can just put money on it like with a prepaid sim card. Also, Paypal can be dodgy af: (also also, maybe more comments will increase the amount of people seeing the post and thus increase donations? :) )
That's… news to me (as in term alone, I only knew about pre-paid in cellphone sense). Thank you, I'll read more about how that looks here. Regarding fees, I do want to put an emphasis on non-EU countries. My card costs nearly nothing per year, national payments are free of charge (aside of some minutia about ATMs but even that is mostly free), and EU fees are almost negligible. Getting something from USA, or even Norway, was just not worth it. Shipping notwithstanding, as this is about bank fees alone. Well, in that case I'll go and put my extra wooly sweater that itches even when you look at it to get annoyed proper. :DHave you looked into prepaid credit cards like Visa?
(also also, maybe more comments will increase the amount of people seeing the post and thus increase donations? :) )
Most people can get prepaid credit cards, also known as "secured" credit cards, because there's honestly no real extension of credit. You've already given the company your money and the only money they let you spend is that. You want to keep an eye out for fees associated with the cards. This industry is currently fairly unregulated so the fees often aren't readily disclosed. Things like a monthly maintenance charge, atm withdrawals, "over limit" penalties. Be careful, ask a lot of questions, or else you might get hit with unpleasant surprises. Unlike credit cards and banks, the companies aren't required to issue disclosures on these - you'll have to ask. If you already have a bank account, I find it difficult to think why you'd want one of these unless it would allow you to make US payments and your bank card won't. Sorry, really just saw an opportunity to nerd out about credit/debit cards and stuff, and took it.