Using a debit card is like writing a check, only without the paper, When you use your card at any business displaying the VISA logo, you withdraw money from your account. When you use your debit card you'll either sign for a purchase or enter your PIN, a secret number like a password, into a keypad.

   You can do a lot with this little card - use it like a credit card to order products over the phone or on the internet, or make withdrawals from an ATM. But each time you do, you're spending the money in your account. Just like checks, it's important to keep a record of how you use your debit card, so you always know how much money you have left in your account.

   A debit card transaction may not happen instantly, either. When you use your card to make a purchase, the amount of the purchase is put "on hold" from your account. That money becomes reserved for that purchase only. This means that sometimes it might look like you have more money in your account than you actually do. Money masters always know how much money is really there by keeping track of how much money they've taken out of their account with their debit card, by writing checks, and any other withdrawals.

   Your parent or guardian must co-sign your application for a debit card, and a line of credit must be attached to the account. If you have money in your account, you can use your debit card as much as you want without having to pay any fees, as long as you sign for the transaction instead of using your PIN. You can use a debit card 24 hours a day to withdraw money, not just when the credit union is open.