When is the last time you wrote a check?

Forums: Checks, School, Personal Finance
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Mo's class at school just had a field trip that was kind of cool -- it was in conjunction with Junior Achievement and they went to a warehouse where they had jobs for the day. They "worked" and "earned money" then shopped at a "store" at the end of the day. In preparation for the field trip all the 5th graders had a "job interview" where they dressed up and answered questions about themselves and what they liked to do so that they were assigned the right "job". It was all really cool.

Today I was looking over some of the preparation materials and field trip materials and noticed that they'd spent quite a bit of time learning how to write checks.

The last time I wrote a check I had to go to the bank and ask for a check to write.

The last time I actually saw anyone write a check out of an actual checkbook was several years ago when I got in line behind a check writer at the grocery store. It all seemed very quaint.

Mo is 11.

Do you think that he will ever write a check in his life?

I don't think he will.

(Please note: I'm not complaining about them spending school time on this. I think personal finance, in whatever form, is a good lesson. In fact, I think they should spend a semester of their senior year of just such things.)

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Type: Question • Score: 24 • Views: 6,288 • Replies: 42

@boomerang,

I still use checks (and cash) because I hate the idea of banks getting a cut of everything I buy in the form of merchant fees. However, I agree checks as we know them are not going to be around when Mo grows up, nor will plastic cards. Everyone will soon be paying via i-phones and a thumb print.

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@boomerang,

There still seem to be a fair amount of situations around here where I need to use a check. I use probably 25 or so per year. A lot of it is school or PTA-related. Some small companies/ artist types.

E.G. usually pays the household bills, he's allergic to online bill paying and he still uses checks. So he goes through a lot more than I do.

At least one situation recently changed though (before they only accepted checks, now they accept credit cards) , and there are things you can get to be able to use smartphones to scan credit cards/ accept payment, so checks will probably just keep getting more archaic.

I've heard from some merchants though that they much prefer cash/ check to credit cards. (Well, cash especially, but checks second and credit cards third.) There was a bit of a push locally recently to not use credit cards when shopping at small local businesses -- fees, I think.

Edit: to answer the titular question, two days ago. (School thing.)

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I write very few checks, because I pay most of my purchases by cash or credit card. I even have a credit card that I don't need to "swipe," but just wave it at the credit card machine.

I think most developed countries will be going "cashless" in the next decade or so where we can use our retina or credit cards to pay for almost everything.

I wrote my last check last month.

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@boomerang,

Just the other day when I had to pay the rent I wrote a check. While all the other items can be tended to over the phone or at their websites, I still occasionally write a check out and send it in. There are other places which still want either check or money order and so I continue writing the checks out.

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@boomerang,

I can't answer the question. I likely used more money orders in the past 10 years then personal checks. At most I'd use two money orders (from the Post Office) a year. I can't remember how long ago I paid something via the mail with a money order. Maybe 2 years ago? I mainly use debit card (online and brick and mortar) first then cash.

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@boomerang,

I wrote a check yesterday. I've been coordinating a fund-raiser for a high school band trip and a number of folks told me that they no longer have a checkbook. Both of my daughters have checking accounts but neither of them have a checkbook.

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We pay some of our bills by check. My wife handles it, so I am not certain how many.

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I just realized that I probably pay in cash a lot more than I think about....

The last time I tried to use my credit card it was declined due to inactivity. When I called they said that they assumed that I'd lost it and so they had to issue me a new one. I've never used that one so the same thing would probably happen again.

I do use my debit card once in a while but truth be told, I don't shop very often.

I always pay cash for Mo's school stuff so checks don't enter that picture. I just write "Paid Cash" on the order/whatever form and I've never had it questioned (of course the cash is always there (but now I wonder what would happen if I didn't put in the cash...).

I think the only time I ever saw my dad really mad at me is the time I bounced a check because I'd failed to keep my check register up to date. He was seriously mad at me about it. I was in high school. I've been very careful about money since then, preferring to go to the bank for cash and paying for things with actual money.

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@boomerang,

My business alwaysw uses checks and bank drafts and POs. POs get paid with checks. The only client that demands e payment is the US govt.(They have no idea how business works)

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The only thing I use cash for is fast food. I use online bill paying for all our regular bills, but if it's a one-time thing, I'll write a check because it's faster than looking up and entering all their information. I probably write a 10-20 checks a month, mostly for services from small business people like hairstylist, massage therapist, handyman, house cleaner, etc. that aren't set up for credit cards and have to be paid on the spot.

The last check? Yesterday I paid the repairman who just finished repairing, re-painting and re-carpeting our basement after it flooded about 6 weeks ago.

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@Eva,

I use online bill payments for as much stuff as I can.

I still have to use checks occasionally, though. Wrote one tonight to leave on the doorstep for the lawn mowing guy....

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We pay a number of local folks by check. Music lessons for the kids, basic home repairs and services (like DrewDad's lawnmower guy), babysitters, etc. All told, we probaby use around five per week. That is where I see the hole between electronic/plastic and cash.

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I can't remember the last time I wrote or even owned a cheque book. Up here, it's bank cards. We all have them and they are rarely not accepted, some small corner stores or businesses don't always want to pay the fees at point of purchase. But most have a bank machine either in the store or very near by. Last week a refrigerator repairman came to the house and had a portable machine, like you'd see in a restaurant for paying bills table side.
I was surprised that they aren't as common down south. Invariably, clerks/waiters and so on, couldn't understand the concept and commonly told me I had to choose either visa or mastercard... What? I had to explain it's not a credit card, the money comes directly out of my chequing account...
Does anyone use Bank Cards in the States?

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@Ceili,

Yes. We call them Debit cards.

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@cicerone imposter,

Yup, same thing.. Wonder why so many gas stations, stores and restaurants don't accept them.

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@Ceili,

Higher processing fees to the merchant.

I recall a time when credit cards were not widely accepted in most types of stores. K-Mart broke the ice when they went along with American Express. Now, they take both credit and debt cards a McDonalds.

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@roger,

K, that makes sense. But it still doesn't explain the deer caught in headlights look I've been on the receiving end of.

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@Ceili,

I think, and I could be wrong...

that debit cards don't have the same fraud protection for the merchant that credit cards do.

If the card is stolen, the merchant is just screwed...

I think.

(I accept cash)

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I had no idea that check writing had become such a quaint practice. Here in the islands, personal checks are commonplace. It's generally how people pay their rent. They're widely used at flea markets and yard/garage sales inasmuch as these amateur merchants have no setup for accepting credit or debit cards. Plastic is certainly in equally widespread use but that doesn't mean checks have stopped circulating. And cash -- around here at least -- is always welcome.

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When is the last time you wrote a check?

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