by NoFastMem:
Think of PayPal as the counter over which you're doing business with a merchant. You wouldn't leave hundreds of dollars lying there for days.
The reason most people will leave money in the PayPal account is because it takes 11 days to move the money from PayPal to bank account and vice versa.
If you pay for things with your Debit Card you will get a load of odd-named entries on your bank statement and a slow 3-day+ debit delay.
If you pay for things via Credit Card on PayPal you will still have to pay off the card with a cheque and may incur interest charges at the end of the month.
The point made about authorising a Direct Debit is a good one. Too many times have banks and other companies helped themselves to my bank account when I have not given them permission for a particular transaction.
A lot of finanical advisors and debt counsellors advise people to have two bank accounts - one a "safe account" that noone except you knows about, the other an account you can use for paying bills.
Paranoia will keep you safe in the finanical industry.
And remember to fight any charges your banks puts on you for late payment of overdrafts or excess charges. They're running with their tails between their legs right now!
:-D
