Shopping for clothes in the comfort of your own home is nothing new. What once was a massive, glossy store catalog sent to your postal address is now a virtual shopping cart you can access from anywhere in the world. With more businesses setting up shop online, more purchases are being made with a simple click than ever before.

The advantages of shopping online for clothes with a prepaid card are numerous. There is no travel involved, so you can avoid both traffic on the roads and crowds at the mall. This can be a blessing in itself when you’re shopping for that last-minute Christmas gift for a picky teenager. If one online store happens to be out of what you need, there’s always another website to visit. Generally, customer service is equal to that of retail stores, except that, online, you don’t have the annoyance of dealing with any pressure from a sales clerk. The checkout process is easy, and you may be surprised to find free shipping offered with many online retailers.

Of course, there’s always the chance that the clothes you order online may turn out differently than you expect. Without the option to try on pants before purchase, you may end up with an ill-fitting pair. Returning products may be a hassle, and most stores cannot refund the shipping price, although major retailers may allow you to return an item to the actual store, saving you time and money. Some people are cautious about shopping online because they worry about security issues. If this is a worry, setting up an online merchant account or getting a prepaid card may alleviate concerns.