Reloadits
These reload cards are amazing. There are two versions of Reloadit cards: one that can be loaded up to $500, and one that can be loaded up to $950. Both types have a $3.95 fee. That means, without taking bonus points or refunded fees into account, your cost is either about 0.8 cents or 0.41 cents per dollar of manufactured spending. The second version is by far the cheapest of all the reload cards, and it is an excellent value.
Where to Buy Reloadits
To find a store near you that sells Reloadits, go to www.reloadit.com/storelocator. In Tuscaloosa, Winn-Dixie sells $500 Reloadits. In my hometown of San Jose, CA, Safeway sells $950 Reloadits. However, I heard reports on the message board Flyertalk recommending that you should load less than $500 at Safeway. That way, you avoid needing manager approval for the transaction.
According to the map, Reloadits are also sold at Home Depot. However, for some reason, I couldn't find Reloadits at Home Depot. Maybe I'll look again.
If you buy Reloadits at Winn-Dixie using an Amex Premier Rewards Gold, US Bank Flexperks card, or another card that offers double points at grocery stores, then that's a cost of about 0.4 cents per point. If you buy $950 Reloadits at Safeway or another grocery store, and use a credit card that offers double points at grocery stores, then you earn points at a cost of 0.21 cents per point. Lastly, let's look at the grocery store category bonus for the old Amex Blue Cash. You would pay a $3.95 fee and earn $47.70 in cash back, profiting about $43.75.
According to the map, Reloadits are also sold at Home Depot. However, for some reason, I couldn't find Reloadits at Home Depot. Maybe I'll look again.
If you buy Reloadits at Winn-Dixie using an Amex Premier Rewards Gold, US Bank Flexperks card, or another card that offers double points at grocery stores, then that's a cost of about 0.4 cents per point. If you buy $950 Reloadits at Safeway or another grocery store, and use a credit card that offers double points at grocery stores, then you earn points at a cost of 0.21 cents per point. Lastly, let's look at the grocery store category bonus for the old Amex Blue Cash. You would pay a $3.95 fee and earn $47.70 in cash back, profiting about $43.75.
Some Prepaid Debit Cards That Can Be Loaded With Reloadits
Some of these Reloadit-compatible prepaid debit cards are special, particularly the PayPower Prepaid Card, and the T-Mobile Prepaid Visa. Here's the list and then the descriptions.
Netspend Prepaid Card
PayPal Prepaid Mastercard
PayPower
T-Mobile Prepaid Visa
Univision Prepaid Card
Netspend Prepaid Card
PayPal Prepaid Mastercard
PayPower
T-Mobile Prepaid Visa
Univision Prepaid Card
Netspend
Load limit: $15,000 per month
Fees: $1 bill pay fee, $2 debit transaction fee
How to sign up for it: online, or at some grocery stores or drug stores
How to liquidate: bill pay, PIN-based methods like money orders and Walmart bill pay
Notes: It's a good card for short-term use, but it's notorious for shut-downs. It's not a dependable prepaid debit card.
Load limit: $15,000 per month
Fees: $1 bill pay fee, $2 debit transaction fee
How to sign up for it: online, or at some grocery stores or drug stores
How to liquidate: bill pay, PIN-based methods like money orders and Walmart bill pay
Notes: It's a good card for short-term use, but it's notorious for shut-downs. It's not a dependable prepaid debit card.
Paypal Prepaid Mastercard
Load limit: $15,000 per month
Fees: $4.95 monthly fee, $1.95 ATM fee
How to sign up for it: online or at CVS
How to liquidate: ATM, bank transfer, PIN-based methods like money orders and Walmart Bill Pay
Load limit: $15,000 per month
Fees: $4.95 monthly fee, $1.95 ATM fee
How to sign up for it: online or at CVS
How to liquidate: ATM, bank transfer, PIN-based methods like money orders and Walmart Bill Pay
PayPower
Load limit: $2,500 per day
Fees: $5.95 monthly fee
How to sign up for it: buy the card at Safeway and other grocery stores
How to liquidate: bill pay, PIN-based methods
Notes: This is an amazing prepaid debit card because at Safeway, they offer PayPower cards that can initially be loaded up to $500 for no fee. In that case, you might not even have to bother loading the PayPower using Reloadit cards. If you can find a Safeway store that will sell PayPower cards to you and accept credit cards, then it might be worth it to set a PIN for the card, liquidate it, and then toss it. It would be a way to earn free bonus miles or points if you can pull it off. For more information about these cards, read the post on Milenomics about it.
Load limit: $2,500 per day
Fees: $5.95 monthly fee
How to sign up for it: buy the card at Safeway and other grocery stores
How to liquidate: bill pay, PIN-based methods
Notes: This is an amazing prepaid debit card because at Safeway, they offer PayPower cards that can initially be loaded up to $500 for no fee. In that case, you might not even have to bother loading the PayPower using Reloadit cards. If you can find a Safeway store that will sell PayPower cards to you and accept credit cards, then it might be worth it to set a PIN for the card, liquidate it, and then toss it. It would be a way to earn free bonus miles or points if you can pull it off. For more information about these cards, read the post on Milenomics about it.
T-Mobile Prepaid Visa
Load limit: daily limit of $2,500; unknown monthly limit
Fees: $2 cash advance fee
How to sign up for it: online, or at a T-Mobile retail location
How to liquidate: bill pay feature, PIN-based methods like money orders and Walmart Bill Pay
Notes: What makes this one of the most amazing prepaid debit cards I have ever seen is the fact that they refund the reload fee when you load the card using Reloadits. That means it's essentially a chance to earn a ton of miles and points for free.
Load limit: daily limit of $2,500; unknown monthly limit
Fees: $2 cash advance fee
How to sign up for it: online, or at a T-Mobile retail location
How to liquidate: bill pay feature, PIN-based methods like money orders and Walmart Bill Pay
Notes: What makes this one of the most amazing prepaid debit cards I have ever seen is the fact that they refund the reload fee when you load the card using Reloadits. That means it's essentially a chance to earn a ton of miles and points for free.
Univision Prepaid Card
Load limit: $950 per day; $9,000 per month
Fees: $9.95 monthly fee
How to sign up for it: online, or buy it at Safeway or other grocery stores (initial load is up to $500 for a $4.95 fee)
How to liquidate: free unlimited ATM withdrawals, bill pay, PIN-based methods
Notes: This prepaid debit card is worth the monthly fee, especially because of all the liquidation options available.
Load limit: $950 per day; $9,000 per month
Fees: $9.95 monthly fee
How to sign up for it: online, or buy it at Safeway or other grocery stores (initial load is up to $500 for a $4.95 fee)
How to liquidate: free unlimited ATM withdrawals, bill pay, PIN-based methods
Notes: This prepaid debit card is worth the monthly fee, especially because of all the liquidation options available.