Oh no, another cash or check only thread

[disneychrista]

We use so few and had so many left when we made our last move, I didn't bother ordering new ones with the correct information.

I've been in this house for 10 years and I still have 2 or 3 boxes of checks left. I can't remember the last check I wrote. I know I needed a void one for Direct Deposit when I got a new job (March 2018).

 

[DLgal]

FWIW, I have to write checks for my kids school all the time. That's what I primarily still use checks for. Just this week, had to write some to the Middle School and High school PTA for purchased items during registration. They only accepted checks because they didn't want to be handling cash.

 

[sonnyjane]

I know this has come up here before. I just think it’s something that is phasing out. Just like businesses that don’t accept cash (for the record, my business doesn’t accept cash or checks - cards only), not accepting checks may be here before you know it. With so many using PayPal, Venmo, Zelle etc. to make instant transfers, the businesses that don’t adapt will eventually be at a disadvantage.

 

[skyblue17]

I know this has come up here before. I just think it’s something that is phasing out. Just like businesses that don’t accept cash (for the record, my business doesn’t accept cash or checks - cards only), not accepting checks may be here before you know it. With so many using PayPal, Venmo, Zelle etc. to make instant transfers, the businesses that don’t adapt will eventually be at a disadvantage.

I think businesses may start to accept some of these services, but not necessarily as replacements for checks. I have Venmo, for example, and I like it. It's great to use when paying friends for concert tickets, splitting a tab, etc. However, even though my landlord is on Venmo, I prefer to still write a check. Why? Because I know that he received it when he deposits it. I don't really need my landlord tied into a one click, one-factor (barely) security based payment app.

 

[Jennasis]

Our business only accepts cash or checks.

We write checks all the time.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Another alternative is seeing if the bank will print a page of checks--sometimes it's free (could be depending on your account) and sometimes it's a fee. We've had to do that in the past when it came time to writing checks from our joint account and we hadn't ordered checks (and still haven't ordered as we really don't need to).

Another alternative is check writing services from one's bank. My bank will send something like 10+ (maybe it's 20 can't remember) checks out for free each month.

To tell you how many checks I've actually written--I have one booklet left from a box of checks from my personal checking account.......from 2006 And yes I've written checks for rent, utilities in cases, and other things but many times I didn't need to do a physical check or another method of payment or another way of getting the money to a person was able to be done.

 

[Skippy918]

I still use a lot of checks. Girl Scout activities are check only, our daycare/ summer camp are check only. I had to write some for school for various things including cafeteria accounts (online takes credit cards but we have to pay the fee) and band fees. They are always good to have on hand.

 

[kimblebee]

Why doesn't she have a checking account? I'm assuming she has a job so where does her paycheck go? As PP said, she needs to open one.

My paycheque and my husband’s go into our savings account. Then, we pay bills online or do an e-transfer. I have no need to ever write another cheque again in my lifetime.

It is very possible to live a cheque free life. I associate them with older people.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I wasn't implying you need checks to buy a house. It's a matter of being fully prepared for independence, I guess. From some past posts, I believe the OPs daughter had been living g at home to save up to buy a house. Seems like ordering some checks would be one of those "life things" a person would get to before "buy a house."

I would disagree that having checks just lying around your house is connected to being fully prepared for independence. Presumably the OP's daughter knows how to write a check (hopefully though not every adult knows either lol) but in today's world it is not the necessity it once was. They can come in handy for certain situations but that's so much more few and far between than it used to be for a lot of people. I can go to my bank in the off chance that we need to pay from our joint checking and get a check.

I think it's more important about knowing how to get checks in the event that you need one.

 

[disneychrista]

My paycheque and my husband’s go into our savings account. Then, we pay bills online or do an e-transfer. I have no need to ever write another cheque again in my lifetime.

A lot of savings accounts (in the US, at least) have a limit on the number of transfers/withdrawals per month without a fee.

I just transferred money from a savings account to a money market and an alert popped up "You are limited to 6 withdrawls per month" and this was within the same bank.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

You can buy the actual house without needing checks. What this thread illustrates is that it's possible that you can't actually be a homeowner without needing checks.

homeowner here---haven't written a check yet for home stuff even my HOA dues we just pay online, escrow shortage we pay online. Home services we've had done have taken other methods of payment. My mom, who still writes checks frequently, hasn't paid for home services with a check in years.

 

[Skippy918]

A lot of savings accounts (in the US, at least) have a limit on the number of transfers/withdrawals per month without a fee.

I just transferred money from a savings account to a money market and an alert popped up "You are limited to 6 withdrawls per month" and this was within the same bank.

The 6 transactions is a federal regulation. Reg D specifically. Read more here. https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/banking/how-regulation-d-affects-your-savings-withdrawals/

 

[disneychrista]

The 6 transactions is a federal regulation. Reg D specifically. Read more here. https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/banking/how-regulation-d-affects-your-savings-withdrawals/

The person I was responding to is in Canada so US Federal regulations won't apply.

 

[cluvsdisney]

Even though I don’t write that many checks, I’ll always have a checkbook. It didn’t cost much...maybe $15 for 40 checks. It’s worth it to me to have them on hand when needed instead of getting a money order or asking someone to write a check for me.

 

[mummabear]

I am surprised in 2019 that anyone even accepts cheques.

 

[mousefan73]

Interesting thread. Moved overseas 15 years ago. In Germany personal checks were always a non thing for decades either cash or transfers. I still have a us checking account and paler checks.

Do stores still except personal checks? When I worked retail those were always a PIA with DL numbers we had to write down.

Is making me nolsstalgic. Recall my mom shopping saturdays and whipping out the check. And the excitement of getting custom checks of your fav cartoon etc.

 

[ozliz]

I’m amazed at everyone saying writing cheque is a life skill and how can someone be buying a house having never written a cheque. I’m in Australia and in my mid thirties and have never written a cheque. The only time I’ve needed a cheque is for a few large purchases like a second hand car (private sale) and my house deposit but no one would have ever accepted a personal cheque for those types of purchases. You always have to get a bank cheque so there’s low risk for the recipient of it bouncing. Most places I know wouldn’t accept a cheque even if I had a cheque book to offer one.

 

[gwynne]

Even though I don’t write that many checks, I’ll always have a checkbook. It didn’t cost much...maybe $15 for 40 checks. It’s worth it to me to have them on hand when needed instead of getting a money order or asking someone to write a check for me either.

I agree with you. I'm not getting a money order or asking someone to write a check either.
I just get a box of the basic personalized free checks. I don't use them very often, but now and then I need them.
Recently we renewed our passports. Guess what? No credit or debit cards accepted. So, I wrote the checks, got the applications in the mail. Easy peasy.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I guess the easiest thing to do is to order a box of checks. If she knows about how much it is going to cost, she can go to an ATM or branch and withdraw enough cash to cover. Money orders would also work.

I DO have checks because they were free for me. Really the only thing I use them for is mobile deposit to put money in an account at a different bank so that I do not have to drive over to the nearest branch for the other institution.

 

[Ellie008]

I haven't written a check in a retail store ever. But I need checks for LOTS of my kids activities, and the local PTA only accepts checks for the school stuff.
I do still write a check for the odd home repair person. The smaller independent service people still like checks because there is no fee for them. Credit cards and other payment methods cost them a fee.