We all know that I do pretty much everything from the home PC. Now I’m a fairly healthy fifty, but I got thinking the other day that computer shopping is just the ideal solution for the elderly. What do elderly people really need? Better security and an easy safe way to do things. Enter the PC.. Nearly any older person can use the computer.

Computers keep older people in touch. The computer helps older people to shop. Computers for the elderly can help them keep in touch with family and each other and they dont’ take much to learn to use. Shopping from home is an idea method for the older person. They don’t don’t have to leave home, the elderly computer user is not required to go out in snow, wind or inclement weather.

The older computer users don’t have to brave the stores at all and buying Christmas gifts is easier when you use a computer. Very often the gifts you buy online are shipped directly to the person you want to have them if you set up your order that way. I don’t know about you, but Christmas shopping isn’t always one of my favorite things to do in a store. Department stores like Wally World just infuriate me at the holidays and saying I get Scrooge mentality when faced with fifty morons  trying to knock me out for the last Polly pocket (TM) is definitely understating the case.

Safe Online Shopping Methods.

Yes, there are a few scam sites out there, but we’ve got a few tricks up our own sleeve. Here’s what I do to shop online. Safe shopping online can be easy. To make sure that you’re getting a safe shopping experience online is a matter of just a simple trick or two and a few minutes extra effort.

First of all, where ever possible, shop with online sites that you know. Use Ebay or Amazon. I love them because I”ve had just one or two bad experiences and all the rest absolutely perfect over ten years time. Using safe sites pay. But what if you want to use something else. What if you find a “just have to have it” item on a store that you don’t know well?

Buy yourself or buy an older online shopper a prepaid credit card. If you are shopping the first time at a new online store for heavens sakes don’t use your bank card. Stores like Amazon and Ebay are secure and safe for the most part, but some just are not.

Get a prepaid card to shop online and then, put just a limited amount of money on a prepaid card. That way you do not risk your bank account. If there is only so much money on the prepaid card, then you can only lose a limited amount of money.

Shopping for the elderly has never been easier or safer than it will be from their own home, but making sure that older people shop online safely is important. No we’re not saying they can’t manage their money, far from it. Most older people manage their money far better than younger people do.

What we are saying is that living on a limited income, taking risks is not always something they want to do. Buy a prepaid credit card with a limited amount set up on it, OR, using a one time Paypal virtual credit card is the best bet when shopping from stores online that you don’t know well.

Imagine if everyone did it and the crooks out there could make only fifty or 75 dollars from each ripoff.  Would tend to keep them less than rich. Not only prepaid credit cards work, but also , buying gift certificates using a paypal virtual card and giving them to the person who is the gift recipient works too. (I personally love Citibank prepaid Mastercards. everyone takes them and they work like a charm. Have not had an issue ever so try those.

Do watch where you buy your prepaids and make sure they are properly activated) Check out links for prepaid Mastercard at Mastercard.com  LOL and for you suspicious types, NO I’m not an affiliate. PREPAID MASTERCARDS FOR ONLINE SHOPPING

Prepaid credit cards mean limiting what can be stolen and that is a great idea. It’s not only a good idea for older people, it’s a good idea for everyone. Shopping for Christmas  online  is easier, but using prepaid credit cards for online shopping is a bright idea that we should all be using.