Are you looking for an easier way to fund your summer adventures and stay within budget? Today’s sponsor, Visa and the Prepaid Visa® RushCard, has a prepaid card that can be the perfect way to track your spending and budget your funds so you can fit in all of the summer fun you wish to have. If you aren’t sure how to get started, take a look below at these helpful tips on how to use a prepaid card to track summer fun! It is easier than you might imagine and a great way to keep your summer plans within budget!
How to Track Summer Spending
Gather your funds.
First, gather the funds you will be using for your summer adventures. You can pull these funds a few different ways. You can save throughout the year, setting aside money weekly. Or, you can use the profits from a garage or yard sale. You can cash in change you collected through the year, or use the savings you accumulated using coupons. However you accumulate your funds, now is the time to gather them up!
Cash them in.
You now want to take these funds and redeem them for a prepaid card. Look for a prepaid card that clearly communicates its fees and provides you with transparency and protection. You also want one that is part of the Visa Clear Prepaid program. Cards part of the Visa Clear Prepaid program are designed to have an easy-to-understand fee plan that covers your day-to-day activities. So, you’ll know when you pay a fee and when you won’t. We will be utilizing a Prepaid Visa® RushCard, which is part of the Visa Clear Prepaid program, for our own family use this summer.
Plan your activities.
Create a simple checklist of the activities you wish to enjoy during the summer. This might include the zoo, museums, a weekend getaway, movies, sports camps, and more. Make a list of the ones you want to try most and rank them by priority. Next to each activity, write down the budget amount for each. This will help you divide up your funds.
Start having fun!
Use your prepaid card to fund your adventures as determined on your list. As you complete each activity, check it off and deduct the amount spent from the balance on your card. Keeping track of your spending will be important as you budget your prepaid card through the summer.
Enjoy frequent check ups.
Check your balance often and deduct funds as they are spent. Make adjustments to your summer plans if needed, should you dive into the funds more than planned. Keeping all of your summer fun funds on the card will keep your savings and other money “safe” as you will rely on your prepaid card, such as the Prepaid Visa® RushCard, instead to fund your summer adventures. Your prepaid card is an excellent way to enjoy the summer without touching your basic savings and checking accounts. You will find it convenient to have these funds in one place, and available to you at the swipe of a card! So give this idea a try, and see how easy it can be to stay on budget this summer!
Protection: Visa Clear Prepaid program provides you with strong consumer protection including:
- Easy to understand fee plans
- No overdrafts permitted so you can’t incur fees or spend more money than you have
- Deposit or share insurance to protect your funds, e.g. FDIC/NCUSIF
- Visa’s Zero Liability* fraud protection, providing added security if your card is lost or stolen.
How will you track YOUR family’s summer spending this year?
*Visa’s Zero Liability Policy covers U.S.-issued cards and does not apply to certain commercial card transactions, or any transactions not processed by Visa. You must notify your financial institution immediately of any unauthorized use. For specific restrictions, limitations and other details, please consult your issuer.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Visa Clear Prepaid and This Mama Loves.
Aisha Kristine Chong says
This has been a struggle for me in general not just for summer lol.. thanks for the tips.
HilLesha says
I’m usually good at tracking money, but I’ve been slacking at it lately. I need to get back on the ball! 🙂
Rebecca Swenor says
This is a great post indeed and it is so important not to over spend. With the Rush Card you can put the amount you want to spend and never go over. Thanks for sharing.
Nikki says
This is a fantastic way to track your summer spending! I tend to go a little over budget during the summer when my son is home every day.
Ann Bacciaglia says
I love my prepaid Visa card. I use it for all my traveling and online shopping.
Nickida says
This is a great way to track your spending and to also teach teens about being financially responsible. Prepaid cards also offer lots of security as well.
Shaney Vijendranath says
Great post. I suck at saving and can really spend during the holidays! I actually created a spreadsheet now to help track my spendings.
Annemarie LeBlanc says
Thank you for the great tips. I agree that we should be wise with spending specially if it took us a lot of extra effort to save up for a dream vacation. Balance checks and planning ahead will greatly help keep spending within limits.
Joanne T Ferguson says
Without proper budgets it is so easy to spend! This program sounds like a way to budget, without it being restrictive! Summer for me is always when I go on a clothes and eating spree! Add in the BBQ’s parties, presents…well you can see who would benefit from a program like this? ME!
Lisa says
It’s so easy to let spending get out of control. The prepaid card makes keeping track of your budget much more simple.
ricci says
I need a better way to track my spending and this may just be the tool I need!! When I get back from vacation I am about to crush some debt and really start paying some stuff off. I get really excited about it when I think about it. LOL!!
Franc Ramon says
I think having a list of activities and noting the budget can really manage your expenses. It’s also important to check it against actual expenses so you’ll know if you’ve manage your funds well. Having a visa clear prepaid can really help you track down expenses too as well as limit them.
Liz Mays says
Having a prepaid card on hand would be convenient. It would be especially useful for me when going on trips.
Jeannette says
A prepaid card is such a great idea in the summer! With all the activities on our list it’s so easy to lose track of what we’ve spend. I think I’m going to give this as try!
Christine Tolhurst says
I have to really watch my spending in the summer. we really seem to go overboard a lot. Great tips about using the prepaid cards to help you track things.
Chubskulit Rose says
We allways fall short on cash no matter how budgeting we do, we try to save a bit here and there but still not eough.
Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says
That is a great idea. I tend to buy stuff without even looking at the price tag and I need to get better about that.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
This is a wonderful idea. I know I’m terrible about going over budget when we travel.
Christy Maurer says
This is a great way to keep track of your spending! I know summer tends to be a time when we do more fun things and they tend to cost money.