Yep, I do write checks. I pay monthly bills with an old-fashioned, handwritten check. I write checks at my doctor's office and the grocery store. At WalMart, I have to let them "electronically cash" my check instantly. I like the act of writing out a check because it makes me more aware of the cost.
I write a couple of checks per month - for a loan payment that I can't do online, and to give money to someone I share expenses with - unfortunately I haven't found a way to do that directly by bank transfer.
Thanks for the ideas. One caution about many sodas is they have lots of sugar or corn syrup which means quite a few calories. I found a cheap source of flavored seltzers and that's my new go-to for an afternoon drink. My boss's lunchtime favorite is seltzer with a few tablespoons of orange or cranberry juice.
By switching to seltzer and from coffee to green tea I ended up losing some weight, because I drink tea straight but put sugar and milk in my coffee. Just goes to show how much small things add up. (I still drink coffee, but it's now my Sunday treat that I can take time to enjoy.)
There are so many decaf teas out there that it's really worth the time to check out the options.
I've written one check in the probably the past year to pay a traffic ticket and the two I voided for my direct deposits. All of my regular payments and purchases are made through online bill pay(with my bank, they send a check for my rent), online payments, automatic debits, debit cards or cash. I'm still on the first checkbook I received with my account when I opened it about 4 years ago.
Check in my mind are an annoyance, but I still write out about 9-12 checks a month. There are certain organization that don't accept credit cards or electronic payments. Then there are times when I don't have cash and a credit card is not an option to pay for an item. I know there may be fancy ways of avoiding checks in these situation, however, right now they seem harder to manage than checks.
Sorry about the major bump, but thought I'd add my few cents.
I got my AppleCare for my iMac and MacBook both on eBay - though I got them in a box (though for free shipping they would have sent just the code, however I felt somehow more secure with a sealed box). These days digital delivery (just the code) isn't technically allowed on eBay, but they don't seem to enforce it if you're interested. Be sure & check the feedback and length of time on eBay as well.
The shipping was minimal anyway for the box. I can't remember exactly what I paid, however it was significantly less than Apple or other internet resellers charge (such as Amazon). It's worked perfectly, unfortunately the time is almost up.
I got both my Macs on Amazon using their financing with the Amazon.com store card, which was great. The costs of the Macs were less and the year financing (with no interest) was very cool. Good luck to all!
I quit writing checks a couple of years ago. Checks are expensive to buy and you don't need them for record keeping. Bank online and all your information is there. All banking is done electronically anyway, whether you do it or the bank does it.
Actually the perfect temp. for moonshine is 172deg. F. according to the moonshiners of WV. and KY. Checkout the all day special about beer, wine & moonshine presented by the History channel , partly hosted by Billy Ray Cyress. Pretty interesting stuff, I'm workin' on my 68' ford fairlane sleeper as we speak, Just BS'ING! I laided up all day Sunday with a hangover watching till noon until I was able to get some store bought spirts, YEAH!
I ordered a box of checks when my husband & I got married so I didn't have to cross my out old address anymore...OURS was on there already. But have to admit after a couple cleared, the fun was over & went back to using the debit card or EFT's for just about everything. If I have to mail bills out, when I go cash our check, I get it in an official check so there's always a pretty reliable paper trail.
I still write a few checks a month but mainly I pay my bills online. I pay my tithes to church via check, I pay ga power and my rent by check because they charge you a processing fee to pay online.
I write 2 checks each month, only because I have to. One, for my rent -- my landlord is one of those guys who has a few rental units, his own business on the side, and so I'm not giving him cash or a debit/credit card -- he's too disorganized. Checks work better for him. The second check I have to write is for electri/water. They do not take ANY e-payments, believe it or not, except Western Union, and then there is a $4.95 extra charge. So a check and stamp are required. Go figure.
I write checks, filling out every line, to pay student loans to Sallie Mae. Apparently, they use the same account number on all of the loans, and, if you pay them electronically, credit the payments to whatever they feel like, regardless of the amount. I sent in two payments, one for $162 and one for $360, both of which were credited to the $360 account and was hit with late fees and dunning calls and letters on the $162 account. I spoke with customer no-service, who could not explain the reasoning behind such practices. Apparently one account is for publilc funded loans and the other for private funded loans, although they have THE SAME ACCOUNT NUMBER! They wanted me to allow automatic access to my account....I think not.
About the only thing I write a check for any more is a magazine subscription (so they can't auto-renew at full price on my credit card the next year). I would be thrilled to get rid of checks altogether, but I don't see that happening just yet.
Still write 1 check for month for rent
BOA however has an option which sends the preset amount in a physical check free. So starting next month might not be writing checks anymore
I write a check for rent, and a check for my kids' school whenever there's an expense there (at least once a month) as they're a small school and don't take credit cards. I will also write checks to some state/city/county agencies, like when I got my son's disabled parking permit after he broke his leg (well, he's 5 so it's really for the adults, but you can't get him out of the car parked in a normal spot).
I'll be moving next week, and my new landlord uses an online payment site, so I will soon not be writing one there. Otherwise, I can't remember the last time I mailed someone a check.
Yes, I write a rent check and my fiance and I write checks to each other because I refuse to give up my credit union (60 miles away) because they have a much better interest rate for my checking account than anything I can find where we live. Luckily I don't have to cash very many checks :)
I do still write checks, to pay my bills and also to pay myself because my personal bank account is at a different bank than my business account (what can I say, I'm sentimentally attached to my personal account). I've started paying more and more bills online, so I imagine the checkbook will be unused in a few years.
I use online bill pay for 99% of my bills. I write checks for my medical stuff, since it comes out of my hsa, and it's held at the same bank, with the same login info, and you can only do online billpaying out of one account.
I am purchasing a new house in May 2010, and would like to know if it is better (in your opinion) to obtain a 30yr mortgage and make double payments, or to get a 15 yr mortgage and make one extra payment per year? I can manage the payments either way, but would like to know which way will save the most money, and time! Thank you.
Yep, I do write checks. I pay monthly bills with an old-fashioned, handwritten check. I write checks at my doctor's office and the grocery store. At WalMart, I have to let them "electronically cash" my check instantly. I like the act of writing out a check because it makes me more aware of the cost.
I write a couple of checks per month - for a loan payment that I can't do online, and to give money to someone I share expenses with - unfortunately I haven't found a way to do that directly by bank transfer.
Thanks for the ideas. One caution about many sodas is they have lots of sugar or corn syrup which means quite a few calories. I found a cheap source of flavored seltzers and that's my new go-to for an afternoon drink. My boss's lunchtime favorite is seltzer with a few tablespoons of orange or cranberry juice.
By switching to seltzer and from coffee to green tea I ended up losing some weight, because I drink tea straight but put sugar and milk in my coffee. Just goes to show how much small things add up. (I still drink coffee, but it's now my Sunday treat that I can take time to enjoy.)
There are so many decaf teas out there that it's really worth the time to check out the options.
I've written one check in the probably the past year to pay a traffic ticket and the two I voided for my direct deposits. All of my regular payments and purchases are made through online bill pay(with my bank, they send a check for my rent), online payments, automatic debits, debit cards or cash. I'm still on the first checkbook I received with my account when I opened it about 4 years ago.
Check in my mind are an annoyance, but I still write out about 9-12 checks a month. There are certain organization that don't accept credit cards or electronic payments. Then there are times when I don't have cash and a credit card is not an option to pay for an item. I know there may be fancy ways of avoiding checks in these situation, however, right now they seem harder to manage than checks.
Sorry about the major bump, but thought I'd add my few cents.
I got my AppleCare for my iMac and MacBook both on eBay - though I got them in a box (though for free shipping they would have sent just the code, however I felt somehow more secure with a sealed box). These days digital delivery (just the code) isn't technically allowed on eBay, but they don't seem to enforce it if you're interested. Be sure & check the feedback and length of time on eBay as well.
The shipping was minimal anyway for the box. I can't remember exactly what I paid, however it was significantly less than Apple or other internet resellers charge (such as Amazon). It's worked perfectly, unfortunately the time is almost up.
I got both my Macs on Amazon using their financing with the Amazon.com store card, which was great. The costs of the Macs were less and the year financing (with no interest) was very cool. Good luck to all!
i write a check about once a quarter, for an odd non-recurring expense. it does have a purpose, though not as much as in the past.
I quit writing checks a couple of years ago. Checks are expensive to buy and you don't need them for record keeping. Bank online and all your information is there. All banking is done electronically anyway, whether you do it or the bank does it.
This post comes just in time. Rubber bands are starting to take over my kitchen junk drawer ;)! Thanks for the great ideas.
Actually the perfect temp. for moonshine is 172deg. F. according to the moonshiners of WV. and KY. Checkout the all day special about beer, wine & moonshine presented by the History channel , partly hosted by Billy Ray Cyress. Pretty interesting stuff, I'm workin' on my 68' ford fairlane sleeper as we speak, Just BS'ING! I laided up all day Sunday with a hangover watching till noon until I was able to get some store bought spirts, YEAH!
I still write checks for most of my bills, except a small few that I pay online. I never write checks at stores or restaurants.
I only write checks for monthly bills where that is the only option, 3 per month.
I ordered a box of checks when my husband & I got married so I didn't have to cross my out old address anymore...OURS was on there already. But have to admit after a couple cleared, the fun was over & went back to using the debit card or EFT's for just about everything. If I have to mail bills out, when I go cash our check, I get it in an official check so there's always a pretty reliable paper trail.
I still write a few checks a month but mainly I pay my bills online. I pay my tithes to church via check, I pay ga power and my rent by check because they charge you a processing fee to pay online.
I write 2 checks each month, only because I have to. One, for my rent -- my landlord is one of those guys who has a few rental units, his own business on the side, and so I'm not giving him cash or a debit/credit card -- he's too disorganized. Checks work better for him. The second check I have to write is for electri/water. They do not take ANY e-payments, believe it or not, except Western Union, and then there is a $4.95 extra charge. So a check and stamp are required. Go figure.
I write checks, filling out every line, to pay student loans to Sallie Mae. Apparently, they use the same account number on all of the loans, and, if you pay them electronically, credit the payments to whatever they feel like, regardless of the amount. I sent in two payments, one for $162 and one for $360, both of which were credited to the $360 account and was hit with late fees and dunning calls and letters on the $162 account. I spoke with customer no-service, who could not explain the reasoning behind such practices. Apparently one account is for publilc funded loans and the other for private funded loans, although they have THE SAME ACCOUNT NUMBER! They wanted me to allow automatic access to my account....I think not.
About the only thing I write a check for any more is a magazine subscription (so they can't auto-renew at full price on my credit card the next year). I would be thrilled to get rid of checks altogether, but I don't see that happening just yet.
I still use personal checks for money gifts such as birthdays, weddings, Christmas, graduations...
Still write 1 check for month for rent
BOA however has an option which sends the preset amount in a physical check free. So starting next month might not be writing checks anymore
I write a check for rent, and a check for my kids' school whenever there's an expense there (at least once a month) as they're a small school and don't take credit cards. I will also write checks to some state/city/county agencies, like when I got my son's disabled parking permit after he broke his leg (well, he's 5 so it's really for the adults, but you can't get him out of the car parked in a normal spot).
I'll be moving next week, and my new landlord uses an online payment site, so I will soon not be writing one there. Otherwise, I can't remember the last time I mailed someone a check.
Yes, I write a rent check and my fiance and I write checks to each other because I refuse to give up my credit union (60 miles away) because they have a much better interest rate for my checking account than anything I can find where we live. Luckily I don't have to cash very many checks :)
Still use checks. Sometimes I fill em out sometimes a let te cashier print on it.
I do still write checks, to pay my bills and also to pay myself because my personal bank account is at a different bank than my business account (what can I say, I'm sentimentally attached to my personal account). I've started paying more and more bills online, so I imagine the checkbook will be unused in a few years.
I use online bill pay for 99% of my bills. I write checks for my medical stuff, since it comes out of my hsa, and it's held at the same bank, with the same login info, and you can only do online billpaying out of one account.
I am purchasing a new house in May 2010, and would like to know if it is better (in your opinion) to obtain a 30yr mortgage and make double payments, or to get a 15 yr mortgage and make one extra payment per year? I can manage the payments either way, but would like to know which way will save the most money, and time! Thank you.