One time, when I was at the grocery store, there was a lady in front of me and she was writing a check. It wasn't much of an issue to me at first. Until I realized that she hadn't even begun to start writing the check until her complete transaction was over. The cashier had rang up all of her groceries and told her the amount due. So I'm standing there and waiting and waiting and waiting....
For real lady? For fricking real? The very least you could do if you are a check writer is have the damn date, the payee name and your signature already down and ready to go so that when you get your fricking total that it is the last thing you have to do!
Anyway, I was standing there partly in awe and partly in annoyance and well I said it... "Who writes checks anymore?" Yeah, so shoot me. It was mostly a joke but also a serious question because, really - who writes checks anymore? And if you are still writing checks then I'm guessing you know the basic guidelines that accompany that task. Isn't there a check writing rule book that says be considerate of others who are standing behind you impatiently wondering why you don't own a debit card.
After I thought about that story, I stood there and actually assembled the checkbook. I put it in it's little holder and then I put in the balance ledger. Then it hit me that I was doing this for no reason at all. Why? Well, who balances their checkbooks anymore? Like in the old days...you know, 8 years ago or so. Yep, so shoot me again. I don't balance one single bank account.
I would love to say that it's because I'm so filthy, disgustingly rich that I never have to worry about who's using which debit card from which account, but it's
So my whole guesstimation game is always just playing with numbers. I'll add up recurring bills, tack on a nice little miscellaneous amount, then cross my fingers. I know, genius right? Okay, so I don't have to cross my fingers, I just rub my lucky rabbit's foot. I do guesstimate a few times a week. I have a nice calendar that shows what bills are due when so I can pretty much budget for a month without checking my balances.
And do I even go into paying bills online and getting paper statements? I can pay my hairdresser online. It's so awesome.
All this over getting a new sleeve of checks in the mail this week. And do you know how long these 100 checks will last us? Well, debit cards will probably be extinct before I finish using them all. But I am really curious if anyone still writes checks anymore...
i don't write checks, but i do balance my checkbook. it's a good thing, too, because i caught a restaurant adding a $10 tip to my debit/mastercard when i'd already left a $12 tip IN CASH on the table! made me wonder how many times they've done this and i haven't caught it...
ReplyDeleteI do balance my checkbook, but only do it weekly. And no, we don't write checks anymore. Except for stuff from the schools. We can pay our lunch ticket fees online, but things like school t-shirts, fundraisers, etc... we need checks for those.
ReplyDeleteThis post made me LOL. I know what you mean about ladies in front of you writing checks... and NOT having a single thing filled out. It's annoying.
ReplyDeleteBUT with that being said I still write checks every now and then. (Although I haven't had to get new checks in almost 2 years.) I pay my rent with them. Very rarely (like almost never) I'll also write them at some place like the grocery store or walmart if we're low on the account balance and pay day is the next day. (Doesn't always work though because lots of places run a check as an electronic debit lol.) Might as well just run your debit card as a credit. So yeah, checks are pretty pointless these days...
I still write checks for bills. I absolutely do not approve of paying for anything online and I am meticulous about my checkbook. Everything, even debits, get written down and compared with the monthly statement, the paper ones, that I file because I don't trust banks. A little neurotic? Oh, yes, but have cought many many mistakes because of it. (I do use debit or or cash at the grocery store. Slow check writers annoy me too.)
ReplyDeleteAnd to the comment above: a lot of restaurants automatically add a gratuity anymore. Almost always for parties of 6 or more. You really have to watch the fine print on the menus because that's where they have to say if they add a gratuity or not. And if you don't see it and leave cash? They will usually refuse to refund it, and have the right to if it's listed on the menu. I learned the hard way. Just a helpful tip. :)
I do write checks at the grocery store and to pay some bills.....BUT I'm the one that's writing as I'm waiting on the person in from of me to finish. I'm not annoyingly slow. My debit card is out of another account that I call my "play" account. It's easier having a bill account and another that's my "play" $$$. And I only pay for gas with a gas card then pay the bill off at the end of the month. It creates more work for me to have multiple accounts but it's easier to know what I can and can NOT spend.
ReplyDeleteI rarely write checks, however the hubster still does, which is a mess when he forgets to either tell me about the check or subtract it from the account(ugh, ya, whoopsie)!
ReplyDeleteSmooches,
Sassy Chica
I wrote two checks this morning for things at Darling Daughter's school. It was the first time in months that I'd written a check. I use my debit card for everything. With online banking, I've stopped balancing the account. We get an email update every day with our balance. Keeps us on track, more or less.
ReplyDeleteChecks... what are those? But no really, I only ever use then if I have to pay family back for something because I don't carry cash. The checks I have now will last me years and years and years.
ReplyDeleteLOL..awesome post. I can not remember the last time I wrote a check, it seems like such a foreign concept now. Thanks for stopping by today, so nice to meet you :)
ReplyDeleteI thought I was the only one who ended up in line behind those people who wait until *after* the total is added to start writing a check?
ReplyDeleteIt's like they think it's oh so cute, or something. Grrr...
So I write a few checks. Those folks like the day care, horse shoer, misc dr. bills, and some others. But not many.
ReplyDeleteI love my Amx and use is for all purchases when possible. I WANT my Costco credits please!!
How about some sympathy to the older generation who just dont trust atm cards. I am sure we will be the same when the young people have some electronic money tracking device implanted in our hand and we just want to use the old credit card.
Agreed. I am always amazed by check writers. I have to admit I piss the people in line behind me off when I got to Walmart with my stack of coupons and price matching.... Sometimes you're pissed and sometimes you're the pisser. Or something like that. Have a happy day. Cute post.
ReplyDeleteI do not write checks, I have all of my payments set up through my bank bill pay. I check my balance online every couple of days to see what's what and I budget from there. All my bills are paid, I get to use whatever's left. WOOT!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't even use banks lol seriously, it's cash (or money order if it's something I have to mail) or nothing!
ReplyDeleteI'm so annoyed that my condo management company doesn't have online bill pay. It's the only time I ever write checks anymore and it's so annoying. Every month I have to stop and look for my checkbook. Love your blog layout and happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteI have like, 400 that came with our new account. I have had to use about 4 in my adult life. Generally for something like paying my painter who, doesn't take Visa but costs more than I'd like to take out of the bank and have in my wallet at one time. Not because I don't trust myself, but because there are at least 3 shoe stores between my bank and my house.
ReplyDeleteI have checks. I use one very rarely though. I don't balance my checkbook either. I do check the ledger online every couple of days.
ReplyDeleteWe rarely write checks but we do balance the checkbook to the tee. We went to a bar in South Beach one night, which I later discovered the bartender added a zero onto my tip. Are you KIDDING ME? I had my receipt but had I not checked, I would never have known. And you dont leave a 100.00 tip for 4 cocktails jackarse bartender!
ReplyDeleteI do, just once a month, for rent. They don't accept anything but money orders or checks. I think checks are less lame than money orders.
ReplyDeleteThis was so my Aunt the other day!! I looked at her and told her..."Really, Aunty? Really!?"
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought I only 'guesstimated'/balanced my bank account that way!
It's why we must be connected and that our children are to be bethrothed. (sp?)
I had to write a check the other day. I write one MAYBE once a month, usually for a bill that they money didn't hit the account fast enough for bill pay. I felt like an idiot, had to write it twice. (I was at home, not at the store). I HATE checks, they take too long to write, to clear...to anything. I have had the same book of checks for years. Technology!
ReplyDeleteOh... that check writer in front of me is such a peeve of mine. I totally hear you. I even get annoyed when someone waits until the last minute to swipe their card and punch in their debit number. People must realize that they can swipe before they are done ringing you up. Anyway, I still have my check books with my old address on it. 4 years ago I moved! I write one very occasionally, but it is annoying to have to write my new address and phone number on them.
ReplyDeleteMy husband still prefers to write checks for the bills. I'd rather pay online, but I guess the USPS still needs someone to buy stamps!
ReplyDeleteStopping by from SITS.
No checks in Norway! - cam you imagine... I don't think they have ever used them here. Great post... it would bug the crap out of me too!
ReplyDeletePopping by via SITS.. Happy Monday! : )
I'm not a check-writing person. IN fact I can't remember the last time I even wrote! Thanks for coming by my blog today. I know you miss San Diego. I would too. I love Austin and always enjoyed playing there...that was until I realized that my out-laws, I mean inlaws- are crazy and now I dread going to Austin...where the said outlaws live. oops...did I just say that? MERRY CHRISTMAS!
ReplyDeleteOMG i am the freakin WORST at balancing a check book... I dont even have one anymore. I do everything on line-- and actually got scolded by Bank Of America for that-- because "its not responsible banking" ---its also not responsible banking for them to decide which debits and credits get added to the acct first on their call.... but thats a whole other story lol
ReplyDeleteI don't write checks anymore either. I do however write one on Wed. afternoon for cash when I know I'm getting paid at midnight that night. Other than that I think their pointless.
ReplyDeleteOnly write checks for the people that don't take debit cards... because I *never* have cash on me. I do balance my accounts weekly...or sometimes monthly if I get "overwhelmed" with other life stuff, but I use a program that reconciles my accounts for me. All online of course. :)
ReplyDeleteStopping by from SITS!
Have a blessed day!
I have a debit card AND I write checks. I write checks to the daycare and to the mortgage and to my car payment bank (who doesn't do online payments). I agree with the grocery store writers, though. I tend to think they do it to spite, though?
ReplyDeleteI don't write many checks- one for the boys' preschool every month, since they don't take cards. Though, last month, Hubs had our check book and so I had to go get cash. The director looked at me like I was nuts. I was like what? It's not in dollar bills, it's not my stripping money.
ReplyDeleteBut, other than that, pretty much everything is online or set up as an automatic draft.
I know this is going to sound weird, but I couldn't tell you how much we have in our account right now. I just tell Hubs that I'm going to spend X amount and ask if we have that in our account. I do everything else around the house, I'll leave the bills to him.