Checking accounts, good or bad?

I think checking accounts are a wonderful thing. Paying for things with cash especially with all the online shopping we do now a days would be horrible. You just need to watch where your money goes. Also I never write a check unless I am positive that the money is already in the account. Bouncing checks can cause all kinds of fees. I used to work at a bank years ago. I talked to people all the time much like your sister who would have these overdraft issues. What I highly recommend she does is start a check ledger. People who balance their checkbooks and keep track of where their money goes are not hit by surprises. Also another option she might want to look into is overdraft protection. That way if she makes a mistake she'll have her over draft protection to cover the bill. Most banks either offer over draft protection with either a line or credit or a savings account with additional funds in it.

We do not have checks anymore since years. I think it's about 20 years or longer ago we had them. So the only way to pay bills is to have enough money on your account or ask the bank for the possibility to borrow some (each month). In the last case you have to make a certain income otherwise you will not get that money. Also you will be registered. So if you need a loan or cellphone etc in time/future those people will check first how much loans you already have, before they decide if they give it to you. I think it's a bad thing to write checks or borrow money. The thing is it's hard to fill up the hole and each month again you will be into the same kind of trouble. The only way is to make a private business plan how to manage your money. As soon as you have money you should pay what is most necessary first. For me this is: rent of the house, electricity, gas, insurances, other bills, some saving for my kids. What is left over is for food plus other unexpected costs. Clothes, shoes etc I can only buy if there is something left over from the money I use for food.

I have a checking account but set it up so I don't have any checks I just use my debit card. I know how easy it is to write a check so I stay away from them.

yes we should handle money matters with care.We also should be aware of how much we are spending and saving. Ohh and all checks and all we should be very careful.

Oh I think there is a way to get over it because when you know that there is not enough money in the bank and you have dated a check on the certain date so to avoid the check from bouncing she can write a letter to the bank and the letter is stop payment letter. It is so easy i guess. Didn't she know this?? Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day ahead.

Checking may be necessary, but when you are trying to write a check for your bill, just make a plan for a deposit which will be used at emergency. So planning before checking is very important. You can just appoint some amount of money, e.g 50,000 for deposit. Then the remainning can be used to reserved for paying the bill.

I have a checking account and a savings account but don't have checks. It's set up that a certain amount of money will be transferred from my checking to savings every month. It's also set up that if my purchase is more than what's in my account, the card is declined. That wasy there's no way to go into the negative.

I do not use my check book 99 percent of the time.. and get money orders if I have to send money for a bill.. Its not that expense to get one at walmart.. And when I do write a check the money is there, and I make it a habiat to check my account several times a day if I am out and about.. To keep track of my balance.. I have a free account but I try to keep a specific amount in there.. If it hits that amount or is a little under I tell myself I have nothing in the account.. Stops myself from getting bank fees and lots of hassle...