# How many checks do you write? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 17, 2012, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992 "2012-10-17T12:35:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/21 "2012-10-17T14:00:34Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > How do you give money to another private person? That’s about the only thing in the US that still pretty much has to be done by check. Like, when I pick up some groceries for my parents, if it’s more than $20-$30, they generally write me a check to cover it. > > There’s no other convenient way besides check or cash here. I wish there were. In Australia, you can transfer money from your bank account to theirs if you know the account number. (Knowing the account number does not allow you to take money out of their account.) ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/22 "2012-10-17T14:15:44Z")
I pay everything online now. My one check per month is written to the local comic book shop - he’s too small an enterprise to make accepting plastic worthwhile. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/23 "2012-10-17T14:29:44Z")
In Spain, most small businesses wouldn’t even know how to deal with one. I don’t have a checkbook. The only time I’ve used checks in Spain they were cashier’s checks, specifically obtained for the occasion (one to pay for my car, one for my flat - which wasn’t even brought by me but by the bank providing my mortgage). I’m now in Northern France. I’d previously been in another region (the Trois Frontiéres, near Basel) where I never saw anybody use checks; here they appear to be pretty common. There are signs in supermarkets offering to accept checks dated at the start of the following month and I saw someone trying to pay with a check in the self-scanner (not possible). ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/24 "2012-10-17T14:45:05Z")
All my banking is done electronically. The one exception is the check I write by SO every 1-12 months or whenever she remembers to put together my “invoice” for our shared living expenses. She’s big on not only using checks, but physically hand delivering them to a teller in the small-town bank where she grew up 2 hours from NYC. Bills too. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard “you’re working from home today? Good! You can drop off the bill at Cablevision or PSE&G!” ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/25 "2012-10-17T14:53:29Z")
One a month, to our condo association (which consists of 4 units). ---
**Author:** ![Dano83860](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a4c791/32.png) [@Dano83860](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dano83860)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/26 "2012-10-17T14:58:58Z")
The debit card and online banking has pretty much eliminated my need to write checks. ---
**Author:** ![AndyLee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@AndyLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyLee)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/27 "2012-10-17T15:34:15Z")
I write one for my rent and that’s pretty much it. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/28 "2012-10-17T15:36:14Z")
One or two a year. I have the same set of checks issued when my current bank account was new, 12 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/29 "2012-10-17T15:38:59Z")
Zero. Dropped bank accounts all together after a disagreement and snafu with BoA. At this point it would cost me maybe 150 bucks to clear it up, but nah. Don’t need a checking account, I’ve discovered, so screw 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/30 "2012-10-17T15:40:39Z")
Just one on a regular basis - my son’s fiddle teacher gets a check monthly. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/31 "2012-10-17T15:42:18Z")
2 to 3 times a year I find someone that will only take cash or a check. That’s the only time I write one. The Florida DMV is one, they hate the credit cards that I use but will gladly take checks. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/32 "2012-10-17T15:43:21Z")
One a month to the cable company because my work phone is part of the bill and I want that portion paid separately. One a year bonding/insurance. One takes online payments the other doesn’t. A few times a year I send in a check for the SO’s child support, it can’t be paid any other way. If he’s on the road I transfer the money from his account to mine and send in the check. Miscellaneous birthday, wedding, gifts. A few a year. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/33 "2012-10-17T15:45:23Z")
I still have some utilities that don’t take electronic payments (our apartment water bill for one) and then there are some where I have zero interest in letting them keep my CC or bank information on file. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/34 "2012-10-17T15:45:27Z")
> [@Rollo\_Tomasi](#): > > Only one a month, for my rent. Same. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/35 "2012-10-17T15:48:38Z")
I pay toll fees with a check. I use a check less than 12 times a year. My regular payments are made mainly through an online banking service. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/36 "2012-10-17T15:52:16Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > How do you give money to another private person? That’s about the only thing in the US that still pretty much has to be done by check. Like, when I pick up some groceries for my parents, if it’s more than $20-$30, they generally write me a check to cover it. > > There’s no other convenient way besides check or cash here. I wish there were. There’s Paypal and the like, though most of the places I write checks to can’t handle that as far as I know (e.g. our cleaning lady). I should actually ask her if she happens to have Paypal, though I doubt it. I could get my son to set up a Paypal account - and in fact I should, in case I ever need to get money to him quickly at college (though my fallback is to go to his credit union and deposit it there). Of the folks who write a lot (like me), do most of you have school-age kids? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/37 "2012-10-17T15:53:19Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > Zero. Dropped bank accounts all together after a disagreement and snafu with BoA. At this point it would cost me maybe 150 bucks to clear it up, but nah. Don’t need a checking account, I’ve discovered, so screw 'em. How do you handle bills etc.? cash? ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/38 "2012-10-17T16:11:36Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > How do you give money to another private person? That’s about the only thing in the US that still pretty much has to be done by check. Like, when I pick up some groceries for my parents, if it’s more than $20-$30, they generally write me a check to cover it. > > There’s no other convenient way besides check or cash here. I wish there were. Bank transfer using online banking. ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/39 "2012-10-17T16:12:26Z")
Usually 4, one each week to the Church collection. However sometimes there is a second collection, so I put down 4-6. Now I hear my parish is going to edonate or something, so I may soon be down to zero. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992/40 "2012-10-17T16:17:49Z")
Couple a month - for doctor copays. Everything else, including my church donation, is electronic transfer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-checks-do-you-write/637992.md?page=3)