Where do you buy your checks?

[Elleshoodat]

And is it cheaper to go through my bank (Bank of America), or should I shop around?

 

[mombrontrent]

I didn't know people used checks anymore! Lol! Seriously though out of curiosity what does one use checks for now days? Everything is done electronically now that I know of.

 

[kdonnel]

I last bought checks 15 years ago. Still working through that box. At this pace I probably have another 15 years worth.

In my case I would just reorder through the bank when the time comes in the early 2030’s.

 

[HarperLeigh]

We buy ours through costco.

 

[HarperLeigh]

I didn't know people used checks anymore! Lol! Seriously though out of curiosity what does one use checks for now days? Everything is done electronically now that I know of.

There are still things we need to write checks for every month.

 

[mombrontrent]

There are still things we need to write checks for every month.

What though? That's what I'm curious about, I haven't needed to use a check in years and am genuinely curious what one would use one for now days. The last time I ever needed to use checks was to pay for school activities and such but all of that is done strictly electronically now, the school only excepts payments online, they will not except cash or checks.

 

[AppleDumpling]

I still write checks for some bills and for gifts (wedding, niece or nephew's birthday, etc.), especially if I'm sending it in the mail. I've always ordered them through the bank and just get the plain boring ones, no customized designs like Disney.

Edited to add- There is no charge for the plain checks.

 

[tvguy]

I don't buy them. My bank (Wells Fargo) provides them for free. I switched banks back in 1975 when my then bank wanted to start charging for checks, plus a monthly fee, plus charge for a safe deposit box. I expect all those services to be free.
I write very few checks anymore. But I prefer small local businesses, and at least here, more are not taking credit or debit cards anymore. They were getting killed by the fees that were being charged to pay us all that rewards money. Somebody has to come up with that 3% you're getting back. But they still take checks.

 

[tvguy]

What though? That's what I'm curious about, I haven't needed to use a check in years and am genuinely curious what one would use one for now days. The last time I ever needed to use checks was to pay for school activities and such but all of that is done strictly electronically now, the school only excepts payments online, they will not except cash or checks.

See my post. A small rebellion by small business owners tired with what it costs them for the "rewards" we get with credit cards, etc.

 

[HarperLeigh]

What though? That's what I'm curious about, I haven't needed to use a check in years and am genuinely curious what one would use one for now days.

We just had all of our landscaping replaced. Used a check to pay for that. We had concrete replaced. We used a check to pay for that. Electric bill at cabin, gas bill at cabin, birthday gifts, wedding gifts, water bill at home, product I ordered through fundraiser, car insurance, car licensing fees, tithe to church, college tuition.

 

[mombrontrent]

I don't buy them. My bank (Wells Fargo) provides them for free. I switched banks back in 1975 when my then bank wanted to start charging for checks, plus a monthly fee, plus charge for a safe deposit box. I expect all those services to be free.
I write very few checks anymore. But I prefer small local businesses, and at least here, more are not taking credit or debit cards anymore. They were getting killed by the fees that were being charged to pay us all that rewards money. Somebody has to come up with that 3% you're getting back. But they still take checks.

See for me that would be a problem. I don't carry cash on me ever so if a business doesn't take credit I don't go to that business. I use my credit card for every purchase I make, it pays me 2% cash back. I pay the bill off in full every month so by using it on all my purchases I'm saving quite a bit of money each month.

 

[mombrontrent]

We just had all of our landscaping replaced. Used a check to pay for that. We had concrete replaced. We used a check to pay for that. Electric bill at cabin, gas bill at cabin, birthday gifts, wedding gifts, water bill at home, product I ordered through fundraiser, car insurance, car licensing fees, tithe to church, college tuition.

Interesting but wouldn't it be easier to just do an electronic transfer of money to all these places? Or pay the bills online?

 

[Elleshoodat]

Yes, I still write checks for various things, including childcare, housekeeping and church. I can't do online banking or Venmo with someone who doesn't accept those forms of payment.

It's obvious I'm not burning through checks if I'm asking where people buy them these days, but they are still an accepted form of payment, and I'm not going to not patronize a small business just because it doesn't take electronic transfers.

 

[tvguy]

See for me that would be a problem. I don't carry cash on me ever so if a business doesn't take credit I don't go to that business. I use my credit card for every purchase I make, it pays me 2% cash back. I pay the bill off in full every month so by using it on all my purchases I'm saving quite a bit of money each month.

My neighborhood the credit card lover noted that the products and service these small businesses offer are so good, he makes SURE he has cash. I'm talking about one bakery specifically, a barber shop and a beauty shop.

 

[AppleDumpling]

See for me that would be a problem. I don't carry cash on me ever so if a business doesn't take credit I don't go to that business.

I always carry cash. I usually don't use a credit card for anything less than $25 or $30. Some businesses still have a minimum purchase for which they accept credit. And I just can't see charging to buy a pack of gum or cup of coffee from a convenient store. Plus there are times you need only a few dollars for a tip. Not carrying cash seems to be common among millennials. I'm older and stick with old habits.

Interesting but wouldn't it be easier to just do an electronic transfer of money to all these places? Or pay the bills online?

Many local businesses, mom and pop stores, contractors, etc. do not have the means to take electronic payment, simple as that.

 

[mombrontrent]

I always carry cash. I usually don't use a credit card for anything less than $25 or $30. Some businesses still have a minimum purchase for which they accept credit. And I just can't see charging to buy a pack of gum or cup of coffee from a convenient store. Plus there are times you need only a few dollars for a tip. Not carrying cash seems to be common among millennials. I'm older and stick with old habits.



Many local businesses, mom and pop stores, contractors, etc. do not have the means to take electronic payment, simple as that.

I use my credit card all the time for small purchases, I'll buy a coffee and use my card, I just have to tap it. Even easier now is Apple Pay, I just tap my phone and it gets charged to my card. I use contractors often for my own house or for my out of town rental properties and I just send them an electronic money payment, every one has a bank account.

 

[bjscheel]

Wherever the best deal is. Lately walmart.com.

I still write tons of checks- grocery store, local store, electric bill, phone bill. I pay some bills online but not all of them have the capability to pay online. Or I don't bother signing up for a username/password to do so. I also don't have a debit card and my account has never been "compromised". I use credit cards for points and I could use them more often I guess, but I don't want to run it up too high so some things I just write a check. I do a mix of cash, credit, and checks. There are always people here shocked by the use of checks.

 

[HarperLeigh]

Interesting but wouldn't it be easier to just do an electronic transfer of money to all these places? Or pay the bills online?

With a couple exceptions, it isn't an option.

 

[HarperLeigh]

I use my credit card all the time for small purchases, I'll buy a coffee and use my card, I just have to tap it. Even easier now is Apple Pay, I just tap my phone and it gets charged to my card. I use contractors often for my own house or for my out of town rental properties and I just send them an electronic money payment, every one has a bank account.

Not every place of business accepts credit/debit cards. I don't understand why this is such a hard concept for some to grasp.

 

[IAHFTPT]

I don't think I've written a check in years. If I did, I'd probably just get them through my bank.