Snail mail/U.S. Mail, how often do you check your mailbox?

[georgina]

I rarely use checks any more. My local neighborhood handyman takes Venmo. We have him do small jobs, I am not sure what the upper limit on Venmo is.

My local city property tax, and estimated state and federal taxes are all set up (by me) and paid electronically out of our checking account. (No fees) Also our home and auto insurance. I have plenty of time to make sure the money is in the account to pay them. Same with utilities, phone, internet, HOA bill, etc.

I have all of our credit card statements and payments done electronically. Same with utilities, phone, internet, There is usually at least 25 days from the statement to payment, plenty of time to make sure they are correct. I have always been very detail-oriented, I log in to my checking account every morning to see what has cleared. I also frequently check my credit cards online to see transactions.

Had an interesting thing last year - a painting contractor wanted 3 checks - upon signing the contract, once it was part way through, and one when finished. For some odd reason the last check never cleared my account - although she claimed she got paid. I had a $1200 windfall from a check lost in the system.

 

[kathyk2]

I check my mail every day I live in an apartment and we have our own mailbox. Covid changed how I pay for some things. I used checks to pay for rent and groceries now I pay rent electronically and use my debit card for groceries. I bought stamps all the time now I rarely do.

 

[_19disnA]

I don't consider writing a check as making our banking system behind. It is more a matter of personal preference. Utility bills are a variable amount each month, so 'auto pay' isn't as practical and as others have mentioned, many places add a surcharge if you pay with a credit card. The annual house tax is also paid by check. They specifically mention the added 'fee' if you pay with a credit card. If the landscaper or repairman does some work at my house, I NEVER pay in cash. Too much can go wrong and typically the people doing the work have to hand off payment to someone else at their company. I usually write them a check which serves as a receipt and never had any issues. Also avoids the extra fee associated with using a credit card.

Many stores will not take checks since there is too much of a chance for it to bounce or have other issues. I doubt most people ever carry around their checkbook in public when out shopping. Typically at the grocery store, I see people pay in cash or with a credit/debit card.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

We have a slot at the bottom of our front door for mail. So since it gets delivered on our living room floor, I at least pick it up every day mail is delivered. Although I may look through it the next day because even if it looks like junk, it may not be, so I open every piece before throwing it out.

Regarding checks, I pay my rent by check each month. My landlord lives literally across the street and he prefers checks to anything else so per his request for the past 5 years we just put the rent check in his mailbox. I've written a few checks during the past year, but I can't recall for what (except one was a graduation gift).

 

[goofyernmost]

My neighbor has informed delivery and has said at least here, it can just be frustrating. Everything it shows doesn't always get delivered. One nice thing about getting prescriptions in the mail is the Mail Order Pharmacy sends them so that I get an email when they are delivered. I gave up on checking the mail about 7 pm. At 830 pm I got an email that my prescriptions had been delivered. Mail truck was still on my street when I went out to get the mail.

I've got informed delivery and I find that very handy. Once in a while they will picture one that doesn't make it that day but it does the next. I don't have to go very far to check it because we have mail room inside our apartment building but it does save a trip if all you get are requests for money. They also tell you if you have a package coming like prescriptions. No picture but the information starts when the place the generates the mail requests the post office to pick it up and then traces the entire trip.

I had a situation where my package disappeared and they could look where it was last recorded electronically. It still took them awhile to find it but it was missing long enough that they had to send out a duplicate that got to me in one day. It was almost a month later that the mysterious missing shipment showed up with no apparent indication of what happened to it.