How to Use PayPal

PayPal is a way of being able to pay for purchases and send money that is very useful to a lot of people. Money can be 'wired' (transfered) in a matter of seconds without the high cost of businesses like Western Union. Read on to learn more about it.


1. Go to the homepage at PayPal.com.


2. Click on 'Get to Know PayPal' and look at the various options. You don't need to be a 'merchant' to use it. While it is affiliated with eBay.com, that is definitely not the only place you can use it.


3. Check out their fee structure. A good deal of the time, there is no fee. Educate yourself about when there is, and where there isn't.


4. Choose the type of account that you want. PayPal allows you to have one personal account and one merchant account.


5. Sign Up. At the top of the page, you will see a link to sign up with. Click on that and fill out the required info. All of it is required to set up an account.


6. Decide on services. Periodically, PayPal will have offers for you. You can decide to apply for them, or not. They are not overly annoying with them and are well worth the convenience of PayPal.


7. Click on 'Go to my Account Overview'. You will see your many options available to you.


8. If you can, verify your account. When you verify it, you are linking it to a credit card or bank account. If you are a merchant, that is one thing that people will look for.