<p>i know in PA you can rent a car with cash - we did it. Same with a hotel room.</p>
<p>The places we have gone use a debit card- that has the mastercard/visa logo.
( In fact I just rented hotel rooms for when we are taking D to her college late august & labor day weekend in Vancouver BC- it took a while though, everyone else is apparently having the same idea)</p>
<p>S has his own checking account, his own credit card and a his card on our account. He uses our account for books etc. The rest is his.</p>
<p>Thanks Ellemenope-they have told me that but I haven't got around to doing online banking yet. The brouchure said parents could transfer anytime. Tried to transfer by phone when they told me that "online" was coming. For now, son has enough in savings to transfer for emergencies. I can't believe how little he feels comfortable in the checking acct--maybe I just don't want to remember being poor.<br>
LA</p>
<p>lamom--online banking has changed my life (well, I am being a little melodramatic here). Makes paying bills a snap (once you get the payees list set up) and helps me to keep track of what monthly bills have come in--helps me keep track my husband's spending (so I can keep up the checkbook balance)--and allows me to transfer money to D who is across the country.</p>
<p>Ellemenope I must try it. A bit cautious since I have been "blamed" for erasing two computers-only one had the blue screen of death so I really don't think it was two. Also a tiny case of ID theft 2 yrs ago scares me. Keeping track on computer would be a big improvement on my "bill box"-will try.</p>
<p>I am just starting to research banking/credit card options (I'm a student), and I was wondering if having my own checking/savings account (not cosigned w/ parents or anything) would change my financial aid situation at all for next year. Would it be more beneficial (finaid wise) to just have a joint account with my parents? Or just to get another debit card? I plan to do work-study and make direct deposits into my account for the entire yr, if that makes any difference.</p>