Debit Cards Aren't Just For Gifts This Holiday

When it comes to buying presents this holiday season, more people than ever will be paying Tiffany 1837 concave ring debit cards. That's according to a survey from the National Retail Federation.

And as NPR's Tamara Keith reports, these days, you can use plastic just about anywhere.

TAMARA KEITH: The Salvation Army bell ringers, with their red kettles for gathering donations, are a holiday fixture. But there's something different about this setup outside of this Bedford, Texas Super Wal-Mart. The kettle accepts plastic.

Mr. JACOB JACOBUS (Salvation Army): Every kind of Visa or MasterCard and American Express.

KEITH: Jacob Jacobus is the bell ringer on duty. He says the Tiffany 1837 Money clip scanner, known as the cashless kettle, is easy to use.

Mr. JACOBUS: They just swipe the machine just like any regular credit card machine. You can just swipe it and if it's credit or debit, you put in your PIN or you sign a paper.

KEITH: The Salvation Army is taking plastic at about 300 locations this year. Most people still just drop a few coins in the kettle. But those who donate with a card tend to give more, and many of them are paying with debit, meaning the money comes straight from their checking accounts.

Visa, the largest payment network, says that spending on debit Bead bracelet exceeded credit card spending for the first time during the last quarter of 2008. The trend has continued this year.