There are efficient check writers and then there are the clueless ones, and the clueless ones give all of you a bad reputation. Even if you fill out the check quickly, most stores a few steps to go through that slow the transaction - they want to see your ID, they write on the check, they call the manager about something, and everyone in line waits.

I don't use a debit card, I charge everything and pay the credit card company fully each month.

As for paying bills on-line, it is a lot easier than writing checks. I haven't kept a paper check register in years. If I want to know my bank balance, I look on the computer. I know that there are people who are risk averse when it comes to on-line banking, but I have adequate security on my computer and feel that it is no more risky than using the US postal system to pay a bill.

Mine's a combined credit/debit card. I use the credit function and am awarded cash reward points. My checking account is debited just as if I were using the debit function, but I'm getting something in return. Since I'm opening my checkbook anyway to get the card out it's easy enough to slip the receipt in there to record later.

I occasionally will pay a bill online if I'm running late, but usually I write checks. That's maybe 6 or 7 a month. I've thought about automatic bill paying for things like utilities & cable, but haven't done it yet. The thing that bothers me about doing everything online are the times when the computer is down for one reason or another.

Like graywings, I charge everything.

We use Discover and they automatically give back at least a 1% bonus on all of our purchases. Every three months, they have a special type/types of vendor that give a return of 5%. October through December will be grocery stores. That's great for all the extra holiday buying.

When I shop online, I check both Ebates and Discover to see which has the greater bonus cash back reward, when linking from their site.

Since I talked DH into switching credit card companies, a few years back, we've already gotten almost $4,000 back. We pay our balance, in full, every month.

I hate writing checks.

My DH only uses checks. He forgets he even has a debit card. I am using my debit card more and more except for tax deductible things.

Confession: I never keep a balance total in my personal checking account. I never balance my account either. I get paid weekly, but you will never see a deposit listed in my register. I do note every check I write in the register (taxes). There is just nothing over to the right where the balance should be. I've done this for well over 30 years.

I have only bounced two checks in my life. Once when I was 17, another when I was 18. I keep a mental note of where I am and call the 1-800 phone number whenever I question myself.

Luckily DH and I keep separate checking accounts. He couldn't live like this, nor could we run a business like this. Funny, my mom did the same thing. I operate my personal finances by 'feel'.

I make a couple payments on-line, using my personal checking account for one and a debt card for another.

To me, debit cards are more convenient when out and about. It's no harder for me to keep my receipts together, carry a checkbook around. I've known too many people to have checks stolen. I don't carry a checkbook with me. It's a matter of personal choice. Like Graywings said, if it's a store that asks for id, etc. then that's more time.

Also, most banks have a bill-pay program to where you don't have to blindly *pay bills on-line*, you are going through your bank, and probably less people are seeing your information that when you write a paper check. I ditto alot of what Graywings said, no need for a paper check register, risk, etc.

I actually use bill drafting more than my bank bill-pay - for things such as utilities, etc. While we don't have credit balances, I do use a credit card for groceries, sometimes gas, etc. because it builds toward my cash-back bonus.

tina

I have both debit and credit card. I use my credit card 95% of the time (the other 5% is debit. no cash) We subtract the receipts in the check book when when the bill comes, compare the two and sent off the amount in full.

ANNNDD after reading what Parma just said about the reward stuff I need to look into it. I never paid attention to those offers.

I've been the victim of check fraud twice. Both times someone printed up checks with my account #, routing #, etc. How could they get this information? They must have had one of my checks in their hand. How did they get one of my checks? My only guess is that a cashier or other worker at a grocery store or Target or wherever made a photocopy.

I no longer write checks and hand them over to strangers. Yes, I realize my credit card could also be compromised in a similar fashion, but after those two experiences I'm just not going to deal with checks anymore.

Like graywings, I don't use a debit card, I charge everything and pay the credit card company fully each month, and I pay my bills on line.

I do both, credit card and on line bill pay, because it's the most convenient way for me. Used to take me 30 min or more to write out all my checks for bills a couple of times a month, now it takes about 7 minutes. I do keep my own record of transactions to my checking account (in excel) and reconcile the bank statement every month (no, I will never ever simply trust the bank to get it right), and that also takes me about 7 - 10 minutes vs >30 minutes the old way since I write so few checks (including online bill pay "checks") and since it's all automated so other than misrecording a check amount which happens rarely, the math is always correct.

And like graywings pointed out, I don't have any problem with people who DO write checks at the grocery store. As long as they don't wait till the cashier is done scanning the entire order, and THEN ask for a pen, as if they didn't realize they would have to actually pay till they were told the total.

Why would it matter re: debit/credit card or cash for tax deductible? As long as you have a receipt.

Besides the convenience factor, if you want to return something, most stores won't give you a refund until about 7 days or so, until your check clears, whatever their policy is. With a debit card, you get an almost instant refund, don't have to wait for your check to clear.

For some reason almost a week ago, I wrote a check for an accessory that is too big and now I have to wait a week for my check to clear to return it. I only get 10 days to return the item anyway. So, I really have 3 days there that I can drive the 30 mins to get there and return it. Mad at myself! Don't even know why I grabbed my checkbook!

My mom takes FOREVER writing a check, and she does NOT use a debit card. I am almost embarrassed to be with her when she does this. I would hate standing behind her, and even though she is a lovely person, I'm sure people get irritated at her. I have told her this kiddingly, but she will probably always write a check.

It is kinda sad that we have to be so rushed all the time! And, I am one of the guilty ones.

I had an interesting experience with my debit card about 8 years ago. I swiped my card at the register, was told by the clerk it didn't go through, so I wrote a check for that amount. When I got my paper statement, the same amount was put through twice, once as a debit, the other as the check, on the same date. I went back to the store and was told that it was impossible, that I must have been forgetting something! I was NOT forgetting anything - I was out about $12.50!

Several weeks after that, the same thing happened! I balked at writing the check but wanted the goods (this time, about $15.00) so I wrote the check. This time I showed the manager my statements; he refunded the $15.00. A few months later, for no reason at all, I received a check in the mail for the amount of the first purchase, no explanation given. I don't know how it was happening, but a clever clerk must have been double-dipping or something. It has never happened again.

Other than that, I have never had any kind of check or debit/credit fraud happen, knock on wood. On-line bill paying and checking account monitoring is so much easier and faster than check-writing, and cheaper, too, since there is no postage.

I used to always write checks until Walmart started handing them back. With the price of checks these days, I'm not going to waste checks at walmart. I also stopped writing checks for almost everything unless it's a Dr or pharmacy.

I dislike writing checks even at the pharmacy these days because everyone is in such a rush; customers, cashiers.. even though the check only needs the amount filled in and for me to write the amount in my register; people are rolling eyes and making it known you're making them wait a few seconds.

I never use my bank card as a debit card after watching a show where someone was sitting outside in a car with a hand held device that recorded the pin numbers being punched in the machine. It made me realize that although we may not have that technology yet (or when I saw the show) I don't doubt someone will manage to do it.

I also dislike using ATM machines because you never know who owns it and if it's taping what you're punching in.

Good point roselvr - I never use my debit card for cash - an ATM. I have heard of that happening also.

tina

I use a debit card for everything and I pay my bills online. I can check my bank balance, credit card balances, rewards, etc. I can do it from my phone, too, which is great.

I think checks are more trouble than they're worth, and would be glad to get rid of them entirely.

I do not write checks in stores anymore because my hands are often uncooperative and I get people heaving huge, dramatic sighs behind me because I'm not moving quickly enough for them to get their 20 fewer seconds in line. Makes me want to go even slooooooowwwwwwwwer just to raise their blood pressure some more.

I primarily use my Discover card for the cashback, like Parma42, and promptly pay it off although I roll a balance once a year to keep them happy; if I want to use "real money" I use my bank's debit card but do the credit card version. For some dumb reason they ding you with a charge if you use it as a debit card (use a PIN) at a point-of-sale transaction, but if you use it as a credit card (sign your name) they don't.

I do have a few things autobilled to the aforementioned Discover card, to rack up more cashback points, but most of my "billers" don't like to autobill to credit cards. I tend to take my Discover cashback in the form of gift cards to businesses we patronize often - for instance if you redeem $40 for a gift card to Lowes, you get a $45-value card - rather than cash. Five bucks more is better than a sharp stick in the eye, no?

I write so few checks that we've been at this address for two years this week and I haven't even gone halfway through one box of checks. I do virtually everything that would need a check through my bank's billpay service, which is provided at no extra charge and is SO easy to use. They even take care of sending paper checks to those who don't accept EFT, so I don't have to fiddle with envelopes, checkbooks, handwriting, stamps, blah. Most of the recurrent bills - car payment, mortgage, phone, electric, yadda yadda - are just autobilled, I don't even have to think about paying them. (I still have them listed in my Outlook calendar, which reminds me twice a month to pay bills - did you know you can often get companies to change your billing date just by asking nicely? - which just means I check the creditor's website to make sure the payment's gone through. I started using the online banking when our bank began offering it several years ago and I've never had an error that wasn't my own foul-up.) I know how much is supposed to go out every month and make sure there's enough there to cover it plus sufficient padding to keep my nerves calm; I have it set up so that if the balance reaches a certain amount, $X is transferred from savings and I get an email - that's only happened once, bad timing of the mortgage and DH's life and long-term disability insurance premiums (steep but necessary) all coming in within 24 hours, two days before DH's payday. I'm not sure DH's employer even issues paper paychecks anymore, or if it's all direct deposit now.

I do not carry my checkbook (if I expect that I'll HAVE to write a check for something, like at one lumberyard that gives a significant discount for cash/check instead of plastic, I'll take out one check and put it in my wallet) and I carry very little cash. I've had my purse snatched before and I was dumb enough to be carrying a good deal more cash than I could afford to lose and I had one of those all-in-one checkbook wallets. The thief used my checks to wipe out the rest of my account. I was SOL.

Remember, you married women - always make sure to have a major credit card (Visa/MC, Discover, etc., not a department store or gas card) in YOUR name only and use it. The ideal arrangement is one in your name only, one in your partner's name only, and one joint account. Too many women are widowed or divorced and find that they have absolutely no credit in their own names - to the point where you can't get a lease without having someone else co-sign it and have to put down a cash deposit to get the darn electricity turned on.

Oh, and another thing - caught this on Suze Orman recently. She said there's a nasty recent development that if you don't use a credit card for too long, the banks are often raising the interest rates on those cards to obscene levels (and of course when they notify you of this it's in that legalese gibberish that normal people can't make head nor tail of) or cancelling them altogether without telling you first. She suggested making sure you use each card at least once a year, and if your balance hasn't been jacked up sky-high, rolling a smallish balance for a month from time to time to keep the account active.

Canadians take their debit cards seriously - I can't remember the last time I used a cheque at a store. The only time I use cheques is when debit cards or credit cards are not an option (like to the kids' schools or small vendors).

I use debit for pretty much everything!

Carrie

Interesting topic. I use my debit card for everything and hardly carry cash anymore. Actually about the only time I get cash out are for tips for my nails and hair. Everything else is by debit card. I pay all of my bills online and check my account for balance and keep track of that online. I like the fact that many bank sites won't allow you to login if you are at an unfamiliar computer. You have to provide them with information and then a code is sent that allows one to login from an unknown computer.

I only do one check and that is for our cleaning company. Everything else is done online. I even put money into my son's account now via transfer, rather than going to my bank, withdrawing funds and then driving to deposit into his account.

I recently got a reward debit card that gives you points towards cash back, the kicker being to use it as credit, although the funds are automatically withdrawn from the account.

I use a debit card only if I'm at the grocery store and need cash back. Otherwise, I charge everything and pay off monthly to get points and easily track expenses. About the only checks I write are for the mortgage and the dog sitter.

A fried, who used to be head of the fraud department of a major bank, told me that mailing checks was much more risky that online banking, shopping, etc.

Interesting replies. I guess I'm still in the stone age and probably will stay that way. lol.

All my shopping except for groceries is by cc, I bill pay with checks.

Every month I go through the cancelled checks (computerized pictures) and cut those that are important, like to the IRS or something.

We saved a lot of cancelled checks when we did the remodel, just in case. I guess I like having a paper trail so I can actually see what I've done.

Good idea about using credit cards every now and then so they don't get cancelled.

memo to self. Must buy something for myself tomorrow. lol

Hmm something to think about. I don't get irriated (well usually) with someone writing a check at the register but it can take just as much time as waiting for a card to go through. . . The card is just easier for me.

One thing to know about debit cards...you cannot put a stop payment on a transaction. You must dispute it and wait.

I had a legitimate reason to stop payment on a transaction, but found I could not because it was on my debit card. I was told by the bank that it's essentially like cash when it comes to payment.

Whenever we need to purchase a big ticket item, or have a repair done, we use our credit cards...gives us some protection, and in some cases, the CC covers a longer warranty.

I use checks very, very infrequently. Debit or credit cards almost exclusively. And every one of our household bills is done with on-line bill pay. I set up regular recurring payments (mtg, car insurance, etc) and for variable payments, I can set the amount I want to pay. Even for places (like the garbage co) that don't have electronic payment option, my bank sends them a check, but immediately deducts the payment from my account as if it were an electronic payment.

I absolutely love it. No paper, no stamps, no finding a mail box, no late fees, and a permanent record of what was paid where all on my computer screen. My mother actually turned me on to it!

I quit writing checks to stores when I got the 3rd degree after writing a check. Needed ID, managers approval, yada yada. But swipe my plastic and no problemo. Honestly, it'd be easier for an identity thief to clean you out with plastic than a check, but the stores act like you're a criminal for writing a check (unless you're white haired, barely reach the counter and take 13 minutes to complete your transaction )

I have heard that most identity theft is a low-tech crime, meaning that the crooks find paperwork in the trash, mail, or they steal files from an office, more often than hacking into a computer account. So when you pay with a check, you have provided your name, address, phone number, bank account and maybe even a driver's license number -- that's a lot of information! I think I'm better protected by using a credit or debit card. And with postage now at 44 cents, I've embraced on-line bill paying. It's also so much faster than writing checks and mailing them. I check my back account on-line almost daily, so I always know what my balance is or if there is a charge on it that I don't recognize.

The only time I use the debit card is at the ATM and Costco (they won't take VISA). I don't write checks or use a debit card because Wells Farge gives me cash back which amounts to hundreds of dollars every year. Why would I pass up free money like that?

I also prefer plastic over checks because it's much easier to use with Quicken. The bank doesn't tell me who the check was written to when I upload my checking account into Quicken, therefore I have to manually type it in from the carbon copy I keep with other receipts. Even if the bank stopped giving rewards I'd still use my credit card.

I imagine Credit card use is also good for to sustain a high credit rating. It shows that you are responsible with debt by not getting behind on payments,etc.

Believe it or not, when I see a person in line (who isn't too old to know how to do anything but write checks) I wonder if they have such bad credit they can't get credit cards anymore!

"I guess I'm still in the stone age and probably will stay that way." Well darn Oakley - why'd you ask us then if you'd already made up your mind??? LOL

I like keeping up with technology and also in trying to be *green* and organized (not to mention not keeping so much crap!), the cc/debit card, on-line banking, bill-pay, etc. really helps with that. You can print out your monthly transactions without having to keep actual copies of checks (however, it is a good idea to sometimes keep check copies - such as your remodel). I print these out yearly in preparing for the taxes. Also do the same with the credit card. Our bank does show who checks are from - you can print an actual front and back of a check. I'm not sure how long all this info is available on-line.

That last line of yours is hilarious Flyingflower! When I became my grandmother's power of attorney and took over her bills/finances, etc. I was trying to find an easy way for her to pay for groceries. She couldn't handle checks anymore, would lose cash and that was all she knew how to do! I could not get her to understand the concept of the debit card. For a while we were using the grocery store gift cards and now I just give my dad the cash as he does her shopping. She's 93 btw and checks were a way of life with them.

If something is so much easier, perhaps safer, why not do it?!

tina

I use my debit card almost all the time - hate waiting for checks to clear. My pet peeve is the limit that my bank imposes - pain when doing multiple transactions in day (back to school or holiday shopping).

"If something is so much easier, perhaps safer, why not do it?! tina "
and flyingflower: "I don't write checks or use a debit card because Wells Farge gives me cash back which amounts to hundreds of dollars every year. Why would I pass up free money like that?"
The above responses are, IMO, no-brainers, especially the latter. Good grief! I get free round trip flights(coast to coast) every year on my travel visa.