PREPAID CARD BUDGETING

In general terms, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for providing one or more prepaid cards, prepaid card accounts, and/or prepaid card account services. For example, in some embodiments, a method is provided that includes: (a) receiving transaction information associated with a transaction, where the transaction includes a transaction machine, a prepaid card account, and a holder of the prepaid card account; (b) determining, based at least partially on the transaction information, that the transaction involves the prepaid card account; (c) determining that the prepaid card account has a budget category; (d) determining, based at least partially on the transaction information, that the transaction applies to the budget category; (e) determining that the budget category has a spending threshold; (f) determining, based at least partially on the transaction information, that the spending threshold will be (or has been) met as a result of the transaction; and (g) sending an alert to the holder based at least partially on the determining that the spending threshold will be (or has been) met.