If you aren’t already a Popmoney ® convert, December is the perfect month to give it a whirl. With all the shopping, gift giving, eating out and all around festive fun that happens at every turn during the holidays, there are plenty of times you need to repay someone (or hope they will repay you!) all month long.

At .50 cents per transaction, the Popmoney personal payment service allows you to send money quickly for a lot less than it costs to send a check in the mail. It’s also faster than going to the ATM or the bank for cash. Don’t believe us? Here are five ways you could use Popmoney this month.

Split the cost for the boss’ gift – Your co-worker picked up a gift and now you need to pay your share. Too bad you don’t have any cash, right? Wrong. Armed with only your co-worker’s email address or mobile phone number, you can repay her today in just a few simple steps. By logging in to your VCNB Online Banking, you can type in her name, the amount you wish to send and her email address or phone number. She will receive a text or email with instructions for claiming her funds.

Send a gift – Your nephews in California are teenagers now and you have no idea what to get them. What kind of kid doesn’t like cash? Just send them a monetary gift via Popmoney and wait for the thank you text!

Dinner out – Some restaurants will not break up the check for a large party. So when your entire extended family goes out for dinner this weekend, you break out your credit card to cover the entire bill. But you don’t have to wait and hope everyone remembers to pay you. Just send a request for funds via Popmoney! They will get a text or email instructing them to pay you back. With a few easy steps they can whip out their mobile phone and do it right there at the table or can log in to the computer when they get home.

Buying tickets – You’re going with a group of friends to a bowl game this year. So if you want to sit together, one person will buy the tickets. Don’t make them ask twice for your share of the tickets. Just send them funds via Popmoney — and smile because you didn’t make your friend wait until you hit the ATM.

Help your kids at college – If your kids are away at college, chances are they are strapped for cash. If they’re coming home for the holiday, send some cash to help with the trip home. Or use it any day of the year to get them the money they need for books and pizza!

How many ways will you use Popmoney this month? Tell us in the comments section below!