As a buyer you never need to have funds in your paypal balance to fund purchases. Paypal take it directly from your funding source.
However it works like this as a defaullt system.
If you do have funds in your paypal balance (1) in the correct currency then paypal will always debit from there first and if you don't then they debit it from any bank account (2) you have linked to your paypal account.
HOWEVER if you ONLY have a bank account linked then it will go as an echeque and take a few days to clear UNLESS you also have a card registered on paypal as a back up as well in which case they will credit your seller instantly so you get your item more quickly whilst they are transfering funds from your bank account.
If you only have a card (3) registered then as long as there are no funds in your paypal balance then it will be debited directly from there.
If you have a bank account and want to pay with one of your cards instead then during the payment process you can click on "other funding options" just above the amount you are paying and select a card instead.
Advice is voluntary.
Kudos / Solution appreciated.
