With the advent of the Internet and modern technology, cash and over-the-counter payments have taken the backseat. Online shopping stores and websites now offer you a number of ways to pay for your online purchases. This is precisely the reason that if you have the compulsion to shop and if you have much cash to burn, you are finding it more and more difficult to make excuses not to shell out some bucks for the baubles that have caught your fancy. Explore two of the most popular online payment options on this page, and see which payment scheme best fits your convenience:

• CREDIT CARD. Popular ever since the dawn of automated teller machines, credit cards have revolutionized the way the world pays for purchases sans bulky cash bills and fat wallets. In some countries, credit cards are free of charge for the first annum. You begin paying a flat rate for their use on the succeeding years then. There is a service charge on top of your purchases too, usually ranging from 5 to 10 percent but such charge may be eliminated if you're able to settle your credit card debt within a given time frame.

To use your credit card online, you need not swipe it through a machine as you would in grocery stores and class restaurants. You simply need to enter your credit card number and other important information on the Payments Page of the site you're making a purchase. Once the site receives your payment, it debits the amount of the product from your card and you're good to go. For your security, however, make it a habit to check your credit card statement. Call your bank immediately if you notice you're being charged for items or services you never availed of in the first place.

• PAYPAL. Whether you come from Europe, America or Asia, you'll join the bandwagon of people who have gone ga-ga (in a good way) over this money merchant. Getting one is a piece of cake: You simply need to sign up for an account as you would in popular e-mail accounts such as Yahoo or Gmail. In addition, you need a debit or credit card to get verified, and voila, you're ready to do business!

What's cool about this mode of payment is that you can pay for your purchases without revealing sensitive information (such as your credit card number or bank account number) to the store or person from whom you are hoarding online goodies. What's cooler is that you are spared from the headache of converting your money to the right currency because PayPal can do this for you, following the prevailing foreign exchange rate. PayPal charges a minimal amount for the transactions that you make, amounting up to 3 percent. For specific details, just access PayPal's website.

Whether you're paying via your credit card or via PayPal, don't forget one more thing: Look for a logo which indicates which forms of payment are accepted in the online store as there are some sites that accept only VISA, MasterCard and American Express cards. Take note also that you can only pay via PayPal if your selected online store is PayPal-enabled.