Ah yes, this is a transatlantic difference we’ve mentioned a few times. In the UK, and much of Europe apparently, it’s no problem to set up a bank transfer from one individual’s bank account to another’s.
In the US that’s much more difficult. Transfers from a business to an individual, or from an individual to a business, or from a business to a business, all are no problem. But not from an individual to another individual.
I last wrote a check at the beginning of September only because I was too dense to realize that there was an ATM where I was going, and I left in a hurry. I think that is the only check I’ve written in 2012. All of my transactions are done by cash, card, or electronic bill pay. I issue rent checks to my landlord through BofA’s website.
Regarding the check I did write this year, I discovered about a week ago that the checkbook I’d taken with me wound up getting washed in the laundry, and is now a giant ball of checks. All I could do was laugh and shrug, because I don’t anticipate needing it in the foreseable future. The check I used had an address from two residences ago. I haven’t been able to come up with a reason to order a new checkbook.
I have paid cash for similar transactions. I’ve paid a fencer by direct bank deposit. Recently I had some furniture moved to my house, I paid by credit card - they phoned the details to their office. That’s normal, a cheque would be unusual.
When I was freelancing I had one or two clients pay with company cheques, but most just did a bank transfer. I put my company bank account details on my invoices.
I’ve never been to a wedding where money was given as a gift (to my knowledge). Buy a gift from the registry and bring it.
This. I buy them from my credit union - 12 for one dollar. Can’t beat that.
You give registry gifts to friends, but to family getting married you give money. Especially to younger family, like a niece. At least that’s how it works in my circle.
In Thailand, you just hand over an envelope with some cash. I believe often to the parents of one of the happy couple rather than straight to them. At least, no one handed me any cash when we got married, but we did get some. Gold too. All handed over to my mother-in-law by the attendees.
Maybe 5-6 checks per year.
1 most months, every 4th month I write 2.
IMO there should have been a separate option for 0.
I pay all my utility bills and credit card bills with checks. Put 'em in an envelope, stick a stamp on it and mail it!
Something about the hands on aspect appeals to me plus I had a bad experience of having my computer fry, ordering a new one, having problems with the new one and having trouble getting the manufacturer to replace it. Offline for the better part of 4 weeks.
I chose 2-3, but its probably more. My chiro takes only cheques or cash (while his receptionist is typing merrily away on an old electric). My doctor takes only cheques (for sending blood out to be tested; the visits are medicare). But the worst is my US cell phone company that takes cards only if you can give a US address including 5 digit zip code. So they bill me every month and I put a check (USD) in the mail. I have argued with them till hell froze over and they are adamant.
Interestingly, our DMV adds a $4 handling fee if you mail them a cheque; it is free if you pay it at the bank or do it online. Oh, and I think our retro school tax administrators do not accept online payments, so I have to send them a cheque. So I use probably 50 cheques/checks a year.
I pay my lawn guy via check, so one a month for about half a year. Then rarely any other time. School and county taxes I guess. Graduations, weddings.
I don’t think I’ve written a check since 2004 or 2005. And I only had a checkbook since 2003, and didn’t really use it much then. Check cards were already a thing.
I use checks on a regular basis to give money to my friends and family. Most recently, I used a check to give money at a wedding. It’s not the most convenient option, but it still has uses.
I just as well use paypal and other online banking methods, as well as cash, card, and my phone (NFC).
Here is a count of the number of checks I have written since 2003:
2003: 69
2004: 23
2005: 41
2006: 31
2007: 44
2008: 40
2009: 47
2010: 43
2011: 37
2012: 24
It appears that two thirds of the checks I write are for child related expenses - school fees and fundraisers, sport league registrations, and the like. The others are for things I want a clear record of payment because there nothing like a check to confirm that something was paid. For most everyday bills it electronic bill pay and debit card (or cash) for purchases.
I’ve never written a cheque. They haven’t been used in my lifetime in the Netherlands (well, when I was young they were in decline). My English family insist on writing me cheques, and I never knew what to do with them. I actually just found one from years ago that was from my godmother for a pretty significant amount. I asked my bank once what to do with them, they said that they don’t handle cheques anymore but that they have one retired guy up in the north who comes in once a month to do the cheques because he likes doing it. It costs a fortune, so I’ve never bothered.
When I wanted money transferred from my English building society to my Dutch account they wanted to send a cheque. The Dutch bank refused, and kindly explained to them that it is ridiculous to send money by cheque between banks.
That seems an odd for England. Cheques are pretty much a thing of the past in the UK, in fact there were plans to abolish them by 2018, although they have since been dropped.
I can now make a payment to any of my regular payees in seconds using a phone app, and pretty much anything else can be done online. The most recent occasions I’ve had to write cheques were to pay tradesmen, but the vast majority now just include their account details on the invoice and request a bank transfer.
Maybe fifteen a year - rent every month, renter’s insurance once a year, registration for writing workshops or other random expenses like that.
This was in 2006 I think, not that long ago. Maybe the building society was crap. I can’t even remember what they were called, tbh. But at the time, loads of friends would write cheques for all sorts of things and I can confirm they don’t anymore, so that has changed over just these last few years.
Three a month. Rent, internet, and my share of the utilities to my roommate who handles utilities.