- About a DEBIT CARD -

[chrisColorado]

Reporting to Provo in 2 months and really excited!

My dad and I had a question about Debit Cards. My call packet says I need to set one up before going to the MTC. It also mentions/I've heard I get one in the field for my time in Bulgaria from the church(?).

QUESTIONS:
1) Do I really need to set a whole debit card up for my time in the MTC only to stop it when I get to Bulgaria?

2) If so, what kind do you recommend?

NOTE: I'd prefer an answer from someone who has returned from Bulgaria recently, so as to get the most up-to-date info.

Thanks in Advance!

[Blindspot]

Debit cards are the best way to transfer money from the states.  If your family wants to send you money while you're there, it's better, cheaper, easier,faster, etc. than Western Union or sending you a check (which is difficult to cash...) and safer than sending cash.

I served a mission before debit cards were in use in BG, so I can't comment as to the necessity, but I can tell you that it's convenient.  I lived there for a few years and found it very useful.

Bulgarian Debit cards work only in Bulgaria (for the most part.)

[Richard Davies]

It's been a while since I served too, so things may have changed, but we were issued debit cards when we arrived in the country. Our monthly missionary funds were made available on those cards.

The other card your package suggests you get is probably for "personal" use should you ever need your parents to send you additional money.

BTW, I found that our monthly allowance, if properly managed, was more than sufficient to provide for my needs and allow me to save a little bit each month for larger purchases such as shoes, coats, new clothes, etc. So I don't recall ever having to have my parents send me extra money.

[chrisColorado]

Thanks for the answers so far! I'll keep looking into it.

Anyone else have something to say?

[Joshua]

Do you already have a bank account of your own? If so, just use that card. Pretty much any garden variety Star/Visa/Mastercard will work in just about any Bulgarian ATM. Keep it, use it. I don't know how the funding is for missionaries now, but eight years ago the dollar was riding high and we lived very well. In 2003 it took a dive and has been much less stable ever since. I imagine that when it reached its all-time low last summer the missionaries felt a bit of a pinch. The dollar has come back significantly since then, but that having that extra "safety net" account is nice when you need it. Also nice if you need to make special purchases (gifts, new clothes, medicine, etc.) that don't necessarily fit into your monthly budgeting. 

[momof5]

We just sent our son with the debit card he already had from our bank here. We only keep a couple hundred dollars in it and he only uses it when he gets in a jam, but it is really helpful when they need it, like when they are travelling or if they need something extra like a camera or something. You want to be careful and monitor it though. He told us that it's easy to have your numbers stolen and his companion lost a lot of money when his card number was lifted at the store.

[Blindspot]

I only ever used mine to withdraw cash from ATMs.  I never used it to pay at a store.  Bulgaria is still largely a cash-only economy and although they are making progress putting card readers in stores, I don't generally trust them unless it's a large chain.