rapidfire
Debit vs. Credit Retirement Living
O
nline shopping and debit cards both have their place, but they might not make the best of
partners. The majority of online purchases come off without a hitch these days, but what if something goes wrong? What if the merchandise fails to live up to its promise? Or worse, what if you’ve been cheated? If that happens, you’ll be glad you paid with a credit card and not a debit card. Credit card purchases have a rela-
tively high margin of safety. You always can challenge a credit card purchase. You even can stop payment if you have good reason. Most credit card issuers will work with a consumer to straighten out questionable charges.
When you pay with a debit card, you’re
more or less on your own. Using a debit card is almost like using cash. Once you complete the purchase, the money is electronically deducted from your bank account. In other words, it has been spent. While there always is the pos- sibility of getting your money refunded, it can take months for your complaint to work its way through the system while you attempt to prove your case. While signature-based debit card trans- actions (select “credit” instead of “debit” on the card-reader), as opposed to PIN-based transactions, offer a bit more protection, neither provides the purchaser with the same degree of security as a credit card. — William J. Lynott
Family Matters
Discover helpful re- sources for military spouses and children.
It's tough to manage a career when you're married to the mili- tary, but it can work. MOAA's fifth an- nual Military Spouse Symposium, "Keeping a Career on the Move," will bring together experts to help you sell yourself, find a job that matches your skill
set, and learn how to keep your résumé job- ready. Plus, you'll get a chance to voice your concerns and get peer advice about renewing licenses and certifica- tions in your field. Join MOAA spouses
and staff at the sym- posium May 12 at the Virginia Beach Conven- tion Center in Virginia Beach, Va. For more information or to regis- ter, visit
www.moaa .org/spousesymposium.
IMAGES: ABOVE, CHRIS EDE; RIGHT, SHUTTERSTOCK
A P R I L 2011 MI L IT A R Y O FF IC ER 27
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104