Household Budgeting With Benefits Using The American Express Serve Cash Back Prepaid Debit Card

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for American Express Serve. I applied for the Serve Cash Back card to facilitate my review and received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Momma Told Me: Spend wisely!

Whether you're single, or married with another child on the way, budgeting is one thing we all struggle with. Some of us are better at setting boundaries and goals better than others but, at the end of the day, we all have to look at the bottom line. After all, it's not so much about how much money you have, or make- plenty of millionaires have gone bankrupt, it's about how you choose to spend (or not spend) it.

When I was a young girl Momma would send me off to school with an allowance ($2.50-$4 depending on whether I was bringing a snack from home or not.) I only bought school lunches once or twice a week, as Momma usually had one packed and school lunches were reserved for especially busy days. Once a month our elementary had 'pizza' Fridays- where, for a dollar extra, we could enjoy a large gooey slice of  'big brand' pizza with our lunch.

However, it was not guaranteed that I'd be given lunch money on that day- and Momma never gave me extra for that dollar. Our family had a strict lunch budget and I got what I got each month, regardless of the day or menu. So I learned to budget my lunch money. On days where I had a big lunch and wasn't particularly hungry by snack time, I'd save my quarters; forgoing a small reward now, for the promise of a bigger reward later, was important!

Today I'm an adult, managing my own household and budget- It's a lot more complicated to make a lunch budget when the choices are unlimited and the only one keeping me from eating out every day is myself! But I've been looking forward to the bigger reward- foregoing a meal out here and there on the promise I, one day soon, will get to cook and entertain in a home that is all my own, is a small price to pay. However, despite even the best, most restrained efforts, it can be hard to keep track of spending and the bottom line. I find, when I had a single bank account with all of my funds at unlimited access, money got spent much quicker and on things that weren't really needed (impulse buys.)

Over the past few months I've been funding and using the American Express Serve Cash Back Prepaid Debit card to help track and control my expendable (and household) spending. My paycheck goes straight into my primary bank account and my budget for the month goes into my American Express Serve Cash Back Card account. Not only do I get notification with spending and balance updates I know I will never go overdrawn, and can maintain my budget through simple reloads direct from my bank account (only when initiated by me) or FREE direct deposit.

The American Express Serve Cash Back Prepaid Debit card also offer multiple benefits only American Express cardholders can enjoy- from a range of discounts at everyday retailers (so I can save even more while budgeting to buy my first house,) and even an instant 1% cash back on all purchases! All of this can be enjoyed for the low monthly fee of just $5.95. In just my first week of using the American Express Serve Cash Back card I earned $2.61, for doing nothing more than my everyday grocery, gas, and utility shopping. No purchase is too small to earn cash back, either- From the $5.41 fast food charge ($.05 back) to the $107 water bill utility payment ($1.07 earned back,) I've used my prepaid debit account to pay and earn for pretty much all of my daily payments. Redeeming cash back earned is as easy as clicking a button- the amount earned will instantly be applied to my next purchase; and I can redeem at any time and amount!

I know that I will need to continue down the path of smart spending and meticulous budgeting as I prepare to shop for my first home- but having the American Express Serve Cash Back Prepaid Debit card and account on my side will certainly make the process easier, and more rewarding! Learn more about this unique account and prepaid debit card and sign up today on the official American Express Serve Cash Back Prepaid Debit Card homepage! What's one thing in your life you are saving up for right now, where an extra 1% cash back could help?


What Daughter Says: Spend smart, while earning cash back, with the American Express Serve Cash Back Prepaid Debit card.