Every year, the day following Thanksgiving in the U.S., is known as Black Friday. Many companies give their employees the day off and therefore, have increased the number of holiday shoppers in the market. According to Wikipedia, recent use of the name originated in Philadelphia in the 60’s where heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic would cause citywide disruption. Later, an alternative explanation arose claiming that during this period, retailers would start turning a profit to become “in the black”. Should you endeavor to save yourself time, frustration and some greenbacks this holiday season, consider getting a prepaid debit card and do all of your shopping ONLINE.

By initially taking some time to shop, purchase and preload a prepaid card online, you can set up a holiday budget so you don’t overspend. With a preset spending amount, you can avoid the pitfalls of accumulating too much debt (and possible finance charges) on a credit card. Also, by shopping online for gifts, you can avoid the hassle of the crowds at the mall. Recent growth of network-branded cards like Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express has made shopping online a cinch. Let’s not forget the gas money you might save as well.

Now you’re concerned that you won’t get the deals that are available at the stores. Never fear, the ever-cunning retail sector continues to expand Black Friday online sales for the value conscious consumer. Comparing prices online and having those special gifts delivered to your front door beats the heck out of fighting the crowds. Besides each retailer’s websites, there are now several websites entirely dedicated to Black Friday. Just type “Black Friday” in your favorite web browser and find out.

You might also have concerns about finding the best prepaid card to begin your shopping extravaganza. Not unlike the retailers, there are many sites out there available to compare prepaid cards and teach you how to get a card. Some of our favorite cards out there include – the Vision Preferred Visa card, the UPside Visa prepaid card, the AccountNow Prepaid MasterCard and the EXACT Prepaid MasterCard. Check ’em out! The key to finding the right card is to read each card’s terms and conditions, (also called cardholder agreement) to make sure it meets your needs. Happy Holiday Shopping!