What is the Walmart Money Card?

It looks real. It feels real. Hey ...the WalMart Money Card IS real!! The only thing about it is that I can't overspend on it, thank God!!

After having just about every credit card possibly known to man, I am now the proud user of a Walmart uploadable credit card - a credit card that acts just like the real deal - except that I now control how much money goes on it, and I have control over NOT overspending!!

Works for me!!!

Uploadable "credit" cards are gaining momentum as more and more consumers are racking their brains out looking for alternative ways to banking. Fed up with over-limit charges, late charges, interest charges along with any and every service charge ever made, uploadable credit cards are starting to catch on with the mainstream consumer.

In a day and age where consumers are struggling to find better ways to handle their finances, the Walmart Money Card provides a sensible solution- and the way it works is like this:

For an original purchase price of $3.00, you can buy your uploadable Walmart Money Card at any Walmart. After the initial fee, if you wish to cash your checks at Walmart, you can then upload your check to the card at no charge. If you are adding cash there is a modest fee, and there is a service fee of $4.95 a month to keep your card (hey that's cheap when you consider how much you pay on interest charges on a credit card!) That $4.95 service charge will be waived if you add at least $1,000 to your card monthly.

What's great about the Walmart Money Card? Well - you control how much you want on the card, and you can use it like a credit card or debit card at banks, stores and wherever credit cards are taken. It beats carrying cash around, and I signed up for the daily alert on my cell phone where I get a text everyday of what the balance on my card is.

Easy To Get- from the Walmart website:

• No credit check
• No bank account required
• Instant use Temporary Visa Card in package. Activate with one easy call

Easy to Use

• Use it everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted worldwide
• Shop on the Internet, including at walmart.com
• Get cash from millions of ATMs worldwide
• Pay your bills fast and easy including cable, cell phone & other bills
• Pay for gas, groceries and more
• Use at restaurants
• Guarantee hotel reservations
• Buy airline tickets
• Budget and track spending online with E-Mail/SMS Balance Alerts

I love it!

The card keeps me accountable in a way I have never had to be accountable before. I must watch my money more carefully, I must pay attention to what my daily balance is and plan accordingly. If I really can't afford something it's in plain black and white there on my phone what I have available to spend. I am no longer tempted to buy something and "pay for it later". I spend more within my budget and make less "random" purchases.

Some say why not just get a regular checking account again and a credit card?

To that I say NEVER!

Over for me are the overspending days, the days of being miffed about exorbitant service and interest charges.

GOSH, it's called being responsible!!! Imagine that!!

Yup, the Walmart reloadable Money Card works for me. It's about time I found a way to keep track of myself!

(Dorsi Diaz is a freelance writer and blogger in the San Francisco Bay Area)