Checks, cash or a check card-which do you use more often?

check writing - check writing- do you still write checks?
United States
February 9, 2007 2:42pm CST
I had to write a check a couple of weeks ago to buy my daughters ice skates. First of all, it took me a minute to find my checkbook and secondly, I noticed that I have writen only about 10 checks in the past 8 months!! It was only a couple of years ago that I would sit down one Saturday a month and write out all the checks for my bills for that month,balance my checkbook, and put my bills in the mail. Theses days I use internet banking to balance my account and bills by phone or online with my check card. Now I use my check card for about 90% of my purchases and the other 10% of the time I use cash. Gone are the days of check writing for me!! How about you? What do you use the most for your purchases checks,cash or a check card?
7 people like this
39 responses
• United States
10 Feb 07
I usually use my check card for everything. I pay my bills online and when I am out shopping I just pull out the check card and pay for my items. I did have to write a check this last week for my daughters lunches at school, I usually send cash with her but did not realise it was time to pay again and had no cash on me. When I got out my check book I realised that I have written 3 checks in 3 months. I guess that is one check a month.
• India
10 Feb 07
I mostly use cash or credit card,however,for all my utility bills i alay use a cheque.
2 people like this
• United States
9 Feb 07
When I go grocery shopping I always pay with cash. When I spend money on big items, like dentist appointments, car repairs, etc. I use my credit card. I pay some of my monthly bills by check, but I don't write as many checks as I used to.
2 people like this
@hoghoney (3747)
• United States
9 Feb 07
I have checks but I use my card the most. but as for paying bills I have a pre-paid charge card that all my bills are paid from. I try not to give out my bank info over the net so the card is the best way to go. and my pay checks are drict dep. to so I dont have to worry about it.
2 people like this
• United States
10 Feb 07
I don't carry cash with me. I use my visa debit card often and it's just like paying cash. Credit card charges interest, I only use mine for online purchases.
2 people like this
@ksloane (42)
• United States
10 Feb 07
I'm the same way. I very rarely write checks. I have had the same box of checks for 2 years now and still haven't used half of them. I find it a headache when I have to pay with a check (like my daughter's school lunches and book orders).
• United States
9 Feb 07
i only use cash to buy my needs
1 person likes this
@catch_me (930)
• India
10 Feb 07
i use debit card mst of d time
• United States
10 Feb 07
I too rarely used my check book anymore. I use my debit visa card which gives me alot of access pretty much anywhere I go. If they take debit I'm covered, if they take credit cards I'm covered as well. I do on-line banking too and check pretty much everyday my accounts to keep track of what's where. My husband will use the debit/bank card for gas, food, whatever and usually forgets to tell me or he can't remember exactly what he spent, so it's good for me to check daily! lol I call to pay my bill for electric and local phone and give them the debit info - so I do not have to mail or write a check there either. They do not have on-line bill pay, but I still pay with a debit card, just over the phone. I think it's a great thing! lol
1 person likes this
@vityota (878)
• India
9 Feb 07
i either use checks or cash as i dont prefer using check card.. i feel it is not safe or might be im over reacting but i prefer cash and check
2 people like this
@roniroxas (10560)
• Philippines
10 Feb 07
cash.... i have no checks or credit cards (lol)
1 person likes this
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
9 Feb 07
I use a credit card which gives me points for a free round trip air travel.
2 people like this
@cabergren (1181)
• United States
9 Feb 07
I also use by debit card most of the time. If the purchase is very small I will pay with cash. But I like you haven't written a check in a very long. I pay all of my bills online. So if I have to write a check it is weird.
2 people like this
• United States
9 Feb 07
I do almost everything online these days. It's so much more convenient than it used to be to sit down and write everything out. It's easier to keep track of everything more accurately too, like your ledger.
2 people like this
@koh2007 (341)
• Singapore
9 Feb 07
i will use cash for normal purchase if the amount is small and debit card for large amount and online shopping.
2 people like this
• United States
10 Feb 07
I always use my check card to make purchases.I hate to carry cash on me.I only write checks for my rent and utility bills.i use to write checks for everything but it is alot easier to use my check card now.
1 person likes this
@Kowgirl (3490)
• United States
10 Feb 07
I use my bank debit card in the stores when I shop. I pay most of my bills online. Most of them are set up to be paid every month so I don't have to worry about them. I haven't paid for anything in cash for so long I have forgotten what a dollar bill looks like. LOL And I only have 1 bill that requires a check each month , hopefuly that to will change soon. I like not having to worry about bills every month, I like the "set it and forget it". That way I don't have to worry about forgetting to pay on time, especially my credit cards. I don't know who first started with debit cards but I would like to shake their hand for doing so. It has been a great service for us all. It has saved me a great deal of money in interest fees.
1 person likes this
@mommyaiai (295)
• United States
10 Feb 07
Me i use cash for my grocery.I write check on my bills only.Sometimes i use a check card if i buy stuff for the family.I only have a small amount of cash for my grocery.
1 person likes this
10 Feb 07
Well my wife and i use cash more often but we do have to use our cards to withdraw it. so you could say it's a bit of mix between these but we never by anything from a credit card or do we plan too. I prefer spending cash it's quicker and you know you haven't been ripped of by shopkeepers who are hustlers lol. =) Kudos! ~Joey
@vish246 (75)
• India
10 Feb 07
cash, i often use cash to pay for............
1 person likes this
• Poland
10 Feb 07
Mostly I use cash, credit card only if buying something through net:)
1 person likes this