Update: Now that REloadit cards are reduced to $500 increments and unloading them has become more difficult, they are no longer a viable manufactured spending option.
REloadit cards are the holy grail of manufactured spending tools. If you can find a location that carries them in $950 increments and lets you pay with a credit card, you have hit the jackpot. Bonus points (literally) if you can earn a category bonus from this purchase.
I’ve had mixed experiences here. In the past, I’ve been able to buy these at a Safeway without hassle. Recently, I came across a Lucky’s grocery store that carried these and Vanilla Reload Cards. I was told they only accepted “cash or debit” for both cards. I find this interesting, since the REloadit site specifically says REloadit cards can only be purchased with cash.
Considering the fee is just $3.95, on a $950 purchase you would earn 475 – 950 miles, depending on which mile-earning debit card you use. If you’re on the low end, you’re paying more money to earn fewer miles than with a Vanilla Reload card. On the high end, you’re reducing your manufactured spending costs by half.
Here is a list of prepaid cards you can use to unload REloadit cards and eventually cash them out:
1. PayPower
Reload Limit: $2,500 per day
Fees: $5.95 monthly fee
Where to buy: Grocery stores (Safeway, Kroger, etc.)
How to Cash Out: Amazon Payments, ATM, bill pay feature, cash back at grocery store registers, money order, square cash
2. Paypal Prepaid MasterCard
Reload Limit: $2,500 per day, $15,000 per month
Fees: $4.95 monthly fee, $1.95 ATM withdrawal fee
Where to buy: Online or CVS
How to Cash Out: Amazon Payments, ATM, bank transfer, cash back at grocery store registers, money order, Square Cash
Note: Paypal offers a refer-a-friend program. For each friend that signs up and loads $10 on their Paypal Prepaid MasterCard, you both earn $5.
3. Netspend Prepaid cards
Reload Limit: $7,500 per 25 hours/$15,000 per month
Fees: $1 per credit transaction, $2 per debit transaction, $1 bill pay fee, $2.50 ATM withdrawal fee. Transaction fees are waived if you sign up for the $10 monthly plan.
Where to buy: Online, select grocery stores
How to Cash Out: Amazon Payments, ATM, Bill Pay feature, Cash back at grocery store registers, Money order, Square Cash
4. Vision Visa Prepaid Cards
Reload Limit: $2,500 per month
Fees: $9.95 Activation fee
$7.95 Monthly fee
$2.50 ATM fee
Where to buy: Online
How to Cash Out: Amazon Payments, ATM, bill pay feature, cash back at grocery store registers, money order, Square Cash.
Note: This card earns 1% cash back at gas stations
5. Univision Prepaid Cards
Reload Limit: $950 per day/$9,000 per month
Fees: $9.95 monthly fee, $1.95 ATM fee when you go outside the Allpoint network
Where to buy: Online, Grocery stores (Safeway, Lucky’s, etc.)
How to Cash Out: Amazon Payments, ATM, bill pay feature, cash back at grocery store registers, money order, Square Cash
While this card has a monthly fee of $9.95, you get free unlimited ATM withdrawals at Target, 7-Eleven and within the Allpoint network. The Univision card also offers a bill pay feature similar to Bluebird.
You can offset the monthly fee by earning a $10 referral credit for each friend you refer. The person you refer will earn $5, and are no limits on how much you can earn this way. If you want to refer/be referred for, leave a comment indicating this.
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