If you wish to find out all about this in detail, go to www.paypal.com. In a nutshell (!), this button allows non-US members can set up a Paypal account which is connected to their credit card. (which costs $1.95 to verify but this is credited to your account once you get a statement). Remember to click for the international form before you fill it out. When you make payment, funds are first taken from your account ($0 initially) and the rest from your credit card ($15, there is now no handling fee)..
The $1.95 is credited to your account once you get your statement and enter a number against the transaction back into your account. This can be done within a day or so if you can access your credit card online. Thus if you do not wish to be left with $1.95, it is therefore possible to first set up your account, confirm it a day or two later to get credited with the $1.95, then make payment taking the remainder from your credit card. Otherwise you can either put this credit towards some item that you spend using your Paypal account at more than 200,000 stores or credit your non-US bank account. However there is a $1.50 charge each time you credit your non-US bank account.
Note that whilst US citizens can actually credit their Paypal account from their bank account, non-US citizens must use a credit card. Additionally, I have to pay 2.9% +30c for the transfer to my Paypal account, 1% more if you are not from the USA and $1.50 to transfer the balance to my UK bank account.
Now do you see why a cheque written in your own currency sent to me by airmail may be easier and cheaper - you just have to wait a short time. However, if you already have a Paypal account or you want to use something like Paypal anyway for other things, its a very good idea.