Die besten Möglichkeiten, ohne Bankkonto Geld zu sparen

Die besten Möglichkeiten, ohne Bankkonto Geld zu sparen

Die meisten von uns haben Bankkonten. Oder zumindest ein Bankprodukt. Ganz gleich, ob es sich um ein Sparkonto, eine Kreditkarte, ein Girokonto, eine Kreditlinie oder eine andere Dienstleistung handelt, auf irgendeiner Ebene haben Sie höchstwahrscheinlich mit einer Bank zu tun. Viele Unternehmen sind darauf angewiesen, schnell auf unser Geld zugreifen zu können. Wir möchten auch wissen, dass unsere hart verdienten Gelder sicher sind.

Wenn Sie in den Vereinigten Staaten leben, ist die Führung Ihres Geldes auf einem Bankkonto (oder an einem Ort mit ähnlicher Technologie und Sicherheit) die sicherste und bequemste Möglichkeit, Ihr Geld zu verwalten. Bei einer Bank sind bis zu 250.000 US-Dollar Ihres Geldes durch die Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) versichert. Banken bieten auch andere Dienstleistungen wie Kredite, Online-Banking, Direkteinzahlungen, automatische Rechnungszahlungen, Bonitätsprüfungen, Finanzberatung und vieles mehr an.

Es gibt jedoch einige Gründe, warum Ihnen das Banking als Konzept unangenehm sein könnte. Jedes Problem bei einer ansonsten vertrauenswürdigen Bank kann dazu führen, dass Gelder für einen längeren Zeitraum gesperrt werden. Ebenso sind nicht alle Bankensysteme so zuverlässig wie die in den USA. Möglicherweise haben Sie (oder Ihre Familie) in der Vergangenheit schlechte Erfahrungen mit Banken gemacht. Das könnte dazu führen, dass Sie davor zurückschrecken, sie erneut zu verwenden. Banken benötigen außerdem viele persönliche Daten, um ein Konto eröffnen und verwalten zu können. Vielleicht fragen Sie sich bereits aus Datenschutzgründen nach Alternativen zum traditionellen Banking.

Our position is clear: the benefits of banking far outweigh the negatives in always every case. However, if you’re determined to avoid dealing with those financial institutions (for whatever reason), there are some practices you can adopt if you’re looking for alternatives.

First: Consider a Credit Union

If you don’t like the idea of keeping your money in a bank, the next place you should look is a credit union. Full stop.

Credit unions are nonprofit financial institutions that have many of the same security, services, and capabilities as a bank. However, they are not beholden to investors. Since profit and growth are not the priorities of a credit union, they generally don’t charge as much in fees. They also tend to have more generous interest rates for loans, savings accounts, and APYs for CDs.

While credit unions are not insured by the FDIC, they are protected by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) for that same $250,000 amount. You do have to be aware of things like membership dues and signup fees —and credit unions are not nearly as ubiquitous as banks. However, if you have access to one, generally speaking they are an equivalent (or superior) option to a traditional bank.

Another notable thing is that not all credit unions require the same level of personal information that traditional banks do. You would need to do some specific research before you join, but a credit union may also be your best bet if privacy is your main concern.

Invest in a Good Safe

Keeping a lot of cash or prepaid cards around your home comes with some fairly substantial risks. Theft can be absolutely catastrophic, but so could an event like a fire. Homeowner’s insurance typically does not cover more than $200 in cash. Depending on how much you have saved, you could end up losing thousands of dollars that would have been perfectly safe in a bank or credit union. Safe deposit boxes may be a slightly more secure alternative, but it’s important to remember that they are usually not insured for large sums of money.

Due to these associated risks, it’s not our position that you should keep large sums of cash in your home or a safe deposit box. However, if you’re determined to (or left with no other choice), putting some of that money into the purchase of a safe can alleviate some of the danger. We encourage you to make sure any safe you purchase is both waterproof and fireproof. We also recommend you buy one large and/or heavy enough that a thief can’t just take it, and figure out how to crack it open on their own time. For supreme security, bolt it to your floor.

Prepaid Cards Will Be a Lifesaver

Not all stores accept cash. If you don’t have a debit or credit card, prepaid cards will help make up for some of the lost convenience. One way to think of prepaid cards is to treat them as halfway between gift cards and debit cards. You load money onto the card much like you would for a gift card. These cards usually come from a large brand like Visa or Mastercard. That meaning your money will be accepted anywhere those cards normally would be. Plus you won’t be bound to any particular store.

However, prepaid cards do come with some additional risks. If your debit card is lost or stolen, it can be cancelled and disconnected from your bank account instantly. If a prepaid card is lost or stolen, you have no way to get that money back. Anyone could use it. It’s just gone. Prepaid cards also tend to come with fees, so make sure you read the fine print. Your effort to avoid paying banking fees might be cancelled out entirely by paying maintenance fees on a reloadable, prepaid Visa card.

However, prepaid cards can make it easier to silo your funds and control spending. Debit cards are still a better option, but prepaid cards to help you set aside certain amounts of money for certain purchases. They are also physically more convenient to carry than large sums of cash.

Find a Place to Cash Checks

One of the major downsides of not having a bank account is not having a convenient way to cash checks. Not being able to cash personal checks (or even your paycheck) can really put a damper on your ability to even access your money, much less save it. However, there are some options.

Some large retailers like Walmart will cash checks for you. Just keep in mind that there are some restrictions. Amounts are usually limited to $5000 — except from January through April, when the limit increases to $7500. Personal checks are typically topped out at $200. They also charge a fee. That can really add up over time if you’re cashing your payroll check there every week. However, they will cash checks directly into a Walmart MoneyCard, their branded prepaid card. So if you’re utilizing that service, it can be a one-stop-shop. Other major retailers might do this as well, but you need to be familiar with their terms and conditions.

You can find other places to cash checks quickly, but it’s often at a premium price. If you’re determined to avoid using the banks, it’s a price you’ll have to accept.

One Final Note…

Many of the same habits that will help you save money with a bank account will help you save money without one. Setting aside a pre-determined amount of your paycheck, coupon clipping, and other tips and tricks will help you build up your assets. However, going without a bank account or credit union completely comes with many risks. We really cannot recommend it unless you have no other option.