Writing checks

[Thrif-t]

We usually only write checks to church and schools.

I don't remember the specific #'s now, but in order for us to have free checking we need to have direct deposit and either write so many checks or do bill pay each month. The only bill pay I ever do is my gas bill. My city utility bill is auto charged to our credit card as well as the cable bill.

I always go into the credit card site and have the funds taken from my checking account because I can initiate the transaction on the due date and it's still considered paid instead of late. Using bill pay, I'm afraid if the paper check would be late in the mail. It's just how I work "float" in the 21st Century. I get paid the 15th and my credit card is due the 15th. I notice the credit card company doesn't pull the funds out of my checking account for a day or two sometimes.

[disneysteve]

Another thing that I'll never understand is how people can pay cash for large items when it's so easy to earn free cash back rewards. It's almost like throwing money away.

While I agree with you, it is abundantly clear reading stories here or listening to pretty much any financial show like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman that some people simply can't handle a credit card. They can't grasp that they can't spend money they don't have. They see their available credit line as money waiting to be spent and they proceed to do just that regardless of whether or not they have the means to pay the bill.

I'm a huge believer and supporter of reward credit cards but if you can't use one properly and responsibly, you shouldn't have one.

[disneysteve]

Regarding checks, I would also say that I don't really find it all that cumbersome to write one occasionally. If I'm sitting at my desk paying bills, it isn't really any faster to get up, go to the computer, log into home banking, and pay a bill (or do the same on my phone) than it is to grab the checkbook out of the desk drawer and write the check. Either way I need to enter the transaction in the checkbook register. The only thing I might save not writing a check is a stamp, and the bulk of our check writing is for our synagogue and we just drop those off in person. Of the 8 checks I wrote in the past 3 months, only 1 got mailed.

[Nutria]

Regarding checks, I would also say that I don't really find it all that cumbersome to write one occasionally. If I'm sitting at my desk paying bills, it isn't really any faster to get up, go to the computer, log into home banking, and pay a bill (or do the same on my phone) than it is to grab the checkbook out of the desk drawer and write the check. Either way I need to enter the transaction in the checkbook register. The only thing I might save not writing a check is a stamp, and the bulk of our check writing is for our synagogue and we just drop those off in person. Of the 8 checks I wrote in the past 3 months, only 1 got mailed.

One big difference between us is that my computer is always on, since I work from home. That -- and that I keep my check register in a spreadsheet -- makes web bill pay so much faster than in your situation.

[tripods68]

I just wrote a check yesterday for $8,100.00 for our landscaper work in our backyard. It's rare that we even right a check nowadays. The last was over the summer for our daughter's tuition this year.

[Nutria]

The last was over the summer for our daughter's tuition this year.

The University does ACH. CC too, but charges a fee.

[disneysteve]

One big difference between us is that my computer is always on, since I work from home.

My computer is always on too, but I still need to log in to the bank site and enter the transaction which takes just as long as writing the check. I do use bill pay for our credit cards and our HELOC.

The University does ACH. CC too, but charges a fee.

Our daughter's school took CC payments with no fee for the first 3 years. I loved that. 30K/year worth of rewards. Then the end of last year they changed the policy and now charge a fee so we had to switch to electronic payment from our checking account so no more reward points for this year. It was nice while it lasted.

[veronak]

Check

I use checks once a month for the rent and twice for my tithes at church.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I write lots of check. Just wrote 4 to girl scouts for 2 kids this month. And 2 checks for piano lessons to the teacher. And to the cleaners and now a check to the gutter cleaners, and yard guys and the renovators. So I write a lot checks. Tell me how to pay these people without checks and I'd do it in a heart beat. And I've messenged and venmo friends money but I highly doubt any of these people are willing to take that sort of payment.

[disneysteve]

I write lots of check. Just wrote 4 to girl scouts for 2 kids this month. And 2 checks for piano lessons to the teacher. And to the cleaners and now a check to the gutter cleaners, and yard guys and the renovators. So I write a lot checks. Tell me how to pay these people without checks and I'd do it in a heart beat. And I've messenged and venmo friends money but I highly doubt any of these people are willing to take that sort of payment.

You can use online bill pay from your bank for at least some of that stuff. I wouldn't bother for one-time payments like to a contractor but for recurrent things like lawn care or piano lessons you certainly could. My cousin is on our cell phone family plan. Every month I get a check from him for his share of the bill that is sent through his bank's bill pay service. You could do the same for the lawn guy, the piano teacher, etc.

Most of our checks are written to our synagogue and honestly I wouldn't trust them to properly apply a check that came in without the accompanying paperwork. That's why I continue to write paper checks for that stuff.

[snafu]

When CC 'cash back' started, cell phone immediately notified. I checked with utility provider [electric, water, sewer, trash combo] to learn they added a 3% fee so I continued the automatic, electronic withdrawal. Recently learned the new increase imposed has us all paying 3% [for CC fees] whatever payment procedure customers select. I've just changed payment to new promo 6% CC cashback for whatever benefit accrues.

Not yet offered on heat/natural gas provider but will watch for changes.

Haven't written cheques for ages as it's so much more efficient to merely fill in 'sum' for regular electronic payments, dated 2 business days in advance of 'due' date. Since electronic income added feels 'real,' the sums going out feels just as real.

I've been able to convince contractors and small service providers to permit 'transfer' directly from my account to theirs instantly. I setup, have them enter their account number and stand there while I key in 'send.' They can verify receiving sum on their cell in a few minutes, no trip to my bank or theirs or wait to access/hold. Even if I misplace invoice or receipt, I retain an electronic level of contact ...date, individual, bank, branch for warranty.

I figure it's important to stay up-to-date and not allow myself to slip.

[Nutria]

I write lots of check. Just wrote 4 to girl scouts for 2 kids this month. And 2 checks for piano lessons to the teacher. And to the cleaners and now a check to the gutter cleaners, and yard guys and the renovators. So I write a lot checks.

Anywhere you can mail a check, you can have web bill pay send it for you. (Of course, the easier it is to create "payees" and generate ad hoc payments, the more frequently you'll use it...)

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Not worth the hassle since it's not regular to the GS, it's dependent on activites and such. The piano teacher also is flexible because if we travel or he does we don't pay that week or 5 week month.

[disneysteve]

Anywhere you can mail a check, you can have web bill pay send it for you.

True, which is why we write the checks we do - they aren't being mailed. One recent check was a gift. It went in the card along with a physical present. The ones to our synagogue are hand delivered to the office along with the accompanying paperwork. The ones to our lawn guy I drop in his mailbox when I'm out for a run (he lives around the corner from us). Checks to contractors are handed over at the completion of the work before they leave the house. I can just see telling them "your check will be in the mail".

[Nutria]

One recent check was a gift. It went in the card along with a physical present.

Interesting. My wife does either cash or gift cards.

Checks to contractors are handed over at the completion of the work before they leave the house. I can just see telling them "your check will be in the mail".

Yeah, that's the last check I wrote.