Put and Call Option Secrets

So, are you counting down the days until you can take advantage of some great Cyber Monday sales? If so, use this time to think about your online payment options. A credit card with extra protections is the obvious choice, but is it the best choice? Other online payment options exist that may offer you faster, safer and more convenient ways to shop online with less worry.Review these five online payment options to determine if one may be a better fit this holiday season:Paypal. In a nutshell, Paypal is the most popular way to send and receive money. You sign up for an account and link your bank account or credit card to your Paypal account. A vast majority of online retailers accept Paypal payments so just shop at your favorite online stores and use your Paypal account when it’s time to checkout. Paypal uses the latest anti-fraud technology and also offers an expanded buyer protection program. The upside: you do not have to re-enter your financial information with merchants. The downside: any disputes will be handled through Paypal’s dispute process. For more information visit Paypal.com.Google Checkout. Like Paypal, you must set up an account and link your account to a debit card. Google Checkout, however, does not allow you to link to a checking account. The upside: disputes are resolved between you and the seller. The downside: Google Checkout is not accepted by many online merchants at this time. Go to .checkout.google.com for more information.Bill Me Later. About 1000 sites offer a bill you later service that allows you to buy now and pay later online or over the phone. Basically, Bill Me Later extends you credit. The company will ask you for your date of birth and last four digits of your Social Security number and then run a credit check. If you are approved, you have 25 to 90 days to pay for your purchase before you accrue interest, depending on the merchant. The upside: you do not have to use a credit card. The downside: the interest is a huge 19.99 percent and you must pay online from you savings or checking account. Visit Billmelater.com for additional information.eBillme. This service provides an alternative online payment option that allows you to pay securely with cash. Currently, 820 online merchants offer eBillme as a payment option. If you select eBillme at checkout, you receive a best price guarantee, fraud protection and a satisfaction guarantee. At checkout simply select eBillme at and provide your e-mail address. The service will then send you an an eBill which you will pay through your bank’s online banking section. The upside: it’s an easy way to pay if you do not have a credit card or don’t want to use your credit card. The downside: if you are not happy with your purchase or want a refund, you may have to wait up to 90 days to get your money back. Additional information is available at eBillme.com.Twitpay. This online payment option is easy if you and the recipient have Twitter accounts. To use Twitpay, sign up for a Twitter account or log in to your account. Post a user message including the word “twitpay,” include the user name of the recipient and the amount. The recipient will receive an alert with instructions about how to pay. Transactions are handled via Paypal. The upside: transactions are fast and easy and you can send payments in any increment from $0.01 to $1000.00. The downside: you will pay five cents for each “twitpay” over $1 and each recipient will pay a user fee of 2.9 percent plus 30 cents. To learn more about Twitpay log on to twitpay.me.Remember, a savvy online shopper looks for cost-savings and protections. Evaluate each of these online payment options and who knows-you may end up with an even better deal than you expected.