How to Pay for Something Using PayPal

1. Log into your PayPal account at paypal.com. Verify that your PayPal account is up to date, including current credit card expiration dates and bank account numbers.
2. Visit an online vendor and add items to the electronic shopping cart on the website. Click the 'Check Out' button; some vendors may have a separate 'Check Out with PayPal' button, or this option may come at a later step.
3. Select the 'PayPal' option for payment. The vendor site redirects you to the PayPal website.
4. Enter your PayPal user name and password. Review the PayPal screen, which displays how much money your purchase will cost and the name of the vendor.
5. Choose how to pay with PayPal. If you have a positive balance in your PayPal account, PayPal lists this as the first option. To pay another way, click the 'Use a different source' link to elect to use your PayPal-linked credit card or bank account. If you do not have money in the PayPal account, your previously chosen preference, for a credit card or a bank account, will be the default.
6. Click the 'Pay Now' button. PayPal returns you to the merchant's screen. Depending on the vendor, there may be an additional confirmation screen to click through, or you may get a resulting 'Purchase completed' message.
7. Check the email account associated with your PayPal purchases for an electronic receipt. You can also log into your PayPal account and check the main screen to see a listing of the most recent payment activity.