# Can money be stored on Paypal without a credit card? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 5, 2017, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-money-be-stored-on-paypal-without-a-credit-card/803619 "2017-12-05T10:11:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JakeRS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ab097/32.png) [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-money-be-stored-on-paypal-without-a-credit-card/803619/1 "2017-12-05T10:11:31Z")
I don’t have a credit card yet, but I do have a Paypal account (you don’t need a credit card/bank account to create a paypal profile) and I am thinking of starting selling various digital stuff online. If I earn let’s say a 100 dollars prior to creating a credit card, will that money be stored on my paypal? I am aware that I can’t physically withdraw that money, that’s not what I want now, I am just asking if it can be just stored on Paypal until I make a card. Also, if it can, can I use that money to pay for other online stuff with it? (buy software,etc.) I’m asking this because I’d prefer to see if I can earn some money online first and only then create the card, because that’s the only thing I’ll use it for (I’m a student, so I’m barely using regular money), so it would be a waste of time if I create the card and then don’t earn anything. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-money-be-stored-on-paypal-without-a-credit-card/803619/2 "2017-12-05T10:40:08Z")
I have used it that way, but I also have a card associated with my account so I am not sure if it’s required or not. I would imagine it isn’t, but in any case it ought to be in their FAQ. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-money-be-stored-on-paypal-without-a-credit-card/803619/3 "2017-12-05T12:07:23Z")
I used to have a credit card associated with my PayPal account, but the card expired - which is to say that there currently is no credit card associated with my PayPal account. It (the PP account) still accumulates money just fine, and yes, I occasionally (rarely) use those funds to pay for various online transactions. FWIW, you can transfer PayPal funds directly to a bank account, if you know the bank routing number and account number, so you really don’t ever need to tie a credit/debit card to your PP account. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-money-be-stored-on-paypal-without-a-credit-card/803619/4 "2017-12-05T14:08:16Z")
I don’t think you need a CC at all to use PayPal. Just creating an account will let people send you money and you can use that money on other websites which take PayPal as a payment method. If you eventually want to get the money out, you can attach your bank account and transfer it to there. Are you creating your own website? That would be a lot of work. You might want to look into various websites which allow you to sell digital content (like etsy or whatever). They would manage the storefront and money and everything for you. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-money-be-stored-on-paypal-without-a-credit-card/803619/5 "2017-12-05T22:15:16Z")
The one big benefit of having a checking account tied to your PayPal account is this makes you a verified buyer/seller on eBay. Much easier time participating there. Many sellers require the buyer to be verified if using PayPal. You can use [PayPal](https://www.paypal-gifts.com/)\* money to buy gift cards, I buy Amazon gift cards for myself from time to time. Note: no Visa/MC gift cards can be bought this way. - The URL is flaky looking but it really is PayPal. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-money-be-stored-on-paypal-without-a-credit-card/803619/6 "2017-12-05T22:16:58Z")
I’ve used PP for many years without a CC. Only recently (last 2-3 years) have I linked my CC to PP. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-money-be-stored-on-paypal-without-a-credit-card/803619/7 "2017-12-05T23:54:44Z")
Yes you do not need a credit card to store money on Paypal. In fact that is their default. That is, your money will be in a PayPal account until you spend it or have it transferred to a bank account. You can also withdraw from PayPal by check though I’m not sure what verification you may have to do first. I have a verified account attached to my bank, so I am already verified. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-money-be-stored-on-paypal-without-a-credit-card/803619/9 "2017-12-07T14:19:18Z")
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