Do you still use personal checks?

[Despos]

I see fewer people writing personal checks at grocery stores or when shopping. I take a check book and write a check when I shop. I pay most bills by writing a check and mailing, except CC. I pay them online. Have been in a few stores that will not accept checks from anyone.

Am I behind the times. Should I start paying everything online or with CC. I know 2 people who carry no cash, ever. Everything goes on a CC. What's the deal?

 

[Stazy]

I'm 20 and have never written a cheque.

 

[Maharlika]

Yes when I pay bills. Never to go shopping, I use the platinum debit card for that one.

 

[Connemara]

I've probably written less than 10 checks in my life. They are becoming obsolete pretty quickly.

 

[whodini]

I remember getting my first checking account about 10 years ago and ordering one of those check box sets (mine was a 5 check tribute to Elvis. Not that I'm a big fan of his, but hell, it's Elvis. On a check). Out of the 5 books it came with, I've only used about 7 checks or so during the past 10 years. Totally obsolete.

 

[jkennett]

Checks are definitely being phased out. Banks now scan a digital image of your check and destroy the check upon receiving it. It makes much more sense to just use a debit card as it performs the same function.

 

[Despos]

So what is everyone using? Debit card, credit card, money order, online bill pay?

 

[robbie]

I write checks for payments I can't make online or over the phone.

 

[Philosoph]

The only time I use checks is to pay rent and bills.

The rest of the time, I use either a debit card or a credit card, though I have a somewhat irrational hatred of the credit card.

 

[jkennett]

Originally Posted by Despos

So what is everyone using? Debit card, credit card, money order, online bill pay?
Almost exclusively debit card. I also have my bank accounts registered online, and track all purchases through that.

 

[Tangfastic]

Quite a few e-bay sellers don't take electronic payment, and I find myself writing cheques for small amounts for e-bay purchases fairly regularly.
I always pay by cheque for paying for the deposit and initial rent for a new house too.
Its still preferable to me to use cheque rather than cash for handing over amounts of more than £50 to individuals not set up for credit card or debit card payments as I don't like carrying cash.

 

[NoVaguy]

I use checks for rent and bills, credit card or cash for everything else. I have a debit card, but dislike using those.

 

[robin]

Originally Posted by Despos

So what is everyone using? Debit card, credit card, money order, online bill pay?
I put almost everything on a cash-back credit card, and have been getting back around $500 through it a year. I'll probably switch to an air miles card next year though. I do not use my debit cards, as there are many more security issues with that. Edit: To add, checks are still used quite a bit in the business world.

 

[scfdefinit]

I've only used a check to pay tuition/parking fees/etc. because the registrar at my university only accepts cash or check. I'm certainly not one to carry around $700 to pay for university fees.

Other than that my debit card works quite nicely when I'm out shopping or buying things online.

 

[hi-val]

Originally Posted by whodini

I remember getting my first checking account about 10 years ago and ordering one of those check box sets (mine was a 5 check tribute to Elvis. Not that I'm a big fan of his, but hell, it's Elvis. On a check). Out of the 5 books it came with, I've only used about 7 checks or so during the past 10 years. Totally obsolete.

That's actually the best.



I use checks a little bit. My brother and I split costs on things like birthday gifts for the parents and buying ammo when we go shotgun shooting. Neither of us carries cash, so it's easier to cut a check, write something embarassing on the memo line and settle debts up that way. Outside of that, I rarely use them.