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POLL: How do you pay for everyday purchases at groceries, pharmacies, gas stations, etc.


TravelingChris
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Methods of payments at groceries, pharmacies, etc.  

287 members have voted

  1. 1. What is the most common method of payment you use in everyday shopping like grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, etc.

    • Debit Card
      149
    • Credit Card
      122
    • Cash
      38
    • Check
      8
    • Other (please specify in a post)
      5


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We always use our debit cards. I don't carry my checkbook at all, but had to have it for the one stupid company that still doesn't have online payment options. Luckily that debt was paid off last summer so I almost never use my checkbook at all anymore. Just for the random medical bill that comes in.

 

I never have cash on me either because dh has direct deposit and I find it a pain to go to the ATM.

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Groceries = debit card or cash

Gasoline = cash. Only cash.

Pharmacy = debit card, cash, or (sometimes) Medical Expense card

Pay phones = :tongue_smilie:

 

Nearly all of the bills I pay using a check. I do not trust cyber-security any further than I can toss a main-frame computer. Nonetheless, credit card for online purchases, because I dislike PayPal.

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A debit card, credit card or cash.

 

We use a credit card at the grocery store that we get double miles for using at one particular chain. If we are not at that chain, we use a debit card.

 

The pharmacy we use a debit card that comes right out of a HSA.

 

Gas stations we use credit cards for the specific stations. Most of the stations give you the cash price if you are using their credit card.

 

Small purchases I'll use cash if I happen to have some on hand. Usually food place like Panera or Wendy's I'll use cash or my debit card.

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It looks like I'm the dinosaur of the bunch. I write checks for everything. I want a paper trial and I want an accurate way of keeping track. I don't do online banking or bill paying. I have a cc for emergencies - only been used once. I have a debit card, but avoid using it most of the time, oh, except for gas. I do use my debit card for gas.

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I am just curious how people pay because I still see people using checks and I have no idea why. I am talking about everyday purchases, not paying the phone bill or something like that nor doing something like buying a car.

I work in retail. I ring up about 100 people per day. At the end I will only have 1-3 checks and they are generally from and older person. Maybe 10-15 will pay cash. The rest all use cards to pay.

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A mix of cash and debit. Credit cards only for large things where I want the protection from the laws and policies protecting credit card purchases.

 

If you lose your checks or someone steals the checking account number and commits fraud it means closing the whole account. But with a debit card, I can just cancel the card number and keep my same account number.

 

We used to do all credit and pay at end of the month but even as restrained as I am spending wise, analyzing a few years worth of data showed me we were spending more of many things than we would otherwise. Not by much but it added up. The extra spending more than ate up the benefit of even a generous "rewards" program. We decided that cash and debit were better. Also way easier to haggle with cash and I am so not above haggling for certain goods and services. That's my anecdote but research strongly supports that this spending more on credit thing (even if paid off in full) causes most people to spend more than they spend otherwise.

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See I don't really understand why use checks. You get receipts with debit. Don't most banks offer online banking free? I know all of my financial institutions I use do (that is three and soon to be four). The check's don't give any grace period like they used to since most stores take out the money right then and there.

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It is a mix for us. I like the ease of credit cards and we get airline miles for them. BUT we are also huge supporters of small local businesses and we own a small business. Those cc charges really bite small retailers. So at any small, non-chain or local business, I write checks or pay cash. I don't have a debit card. I need an actual paper trail and to be forced to write down each purchase because we are usually close to zero in the bank account. I CCs, I at least have time to plan how and when it will be paid so I do not have to keep exact track of each cent like I do for anything that comes directly out of my bank account.

 

If any of you are members of a grocery co-op, PLEASE use cash or checks! Our local coop paid three times the profit it made last year in cc fees. It was really eye opening when spelled out like that.

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Always credit card. We pay it every month and get points. I keep some cash for places that don't take cards, but I like the convenience of credit cards. I only use checks for personal payments--like if someone in my coop makes a bigger order to get a discount or reduce shipping costs.

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I am just curious how people pay because I still see people using checks and I have no idea why. I am talking about everyday purchases, not paying the phone bill or something like that nor doing something like buying a car.

 

I'll float a check at the grocery store if funds are low and there is a great need. Otherwise I use the debit card.

 

Oh, and the health food store doesn't take the card so I write checks there too. And the dentist office. They don't take the card so I have to pay the copay with a check.

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I use my credit card for everything, and pay the balance each month.

 

I almost never use my debit card except at an ATM at my bank. The only except is Sam's. Sam's doesn't take VISA, and I try to reserve my MasterCard for health-related purchases (prescriptions, co-pays, etc.).

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It looks like I'm the dinosaur of the bunch. I write checks for everything. I want a paper trial and I want an accurate way of keeping track. I don't do online banking or bill paying. I have a cc for emergencies - only been used once. I have a debit card, but avoid using it most of the time, oh, except for gas. I do use my debit card for gas.

 

Why is the receipt not a paper trail and an accurate way of keeping track? I'm asking a sincere question here...not trying to say you are wrong for doing it the way you do it.

 

I rarely use a check for ANYTHING. My hair dresser still doesn't take debit/credit...nor does the drycleaner here in my new town....and I write checks for things like kids' fundraisers. Hardly anything else.

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See I don't really understand why use checks. You get receipts with debit. Don't most banks offer online banking free? I know all of my financial institutions I use do (that is three and soon to be four). The check's don't give any grace period like they used to since most stores take out the money right then and there.

 

 

 

Why is the receipt not a paper trail and an accurate way of keeping track? I'm asking a sincere question here...not trying to say you are wrong for doing it the way you do it. I rarely use a check for ANYTHING. My hair dresser still doesn't take debit/credit...nor does the drycleaner here in my new town....and I write checks for things like kids' fundraisers. Hardly anything else.

 

I use checks for everything. WRT the paper trail- I don't know about pp, but my checks are duplicate, so I have a carbon copy, and receipts are easily lost- a book of copies isn't. Costco only takes checks, cash, AmEx, or debit We don't have debit cards at all. They are too easily hacked/stolen. We use the cc (not amex obviously) for gas purchases, online shopping, or emergency- I forgot the checkbook elsewhere.

 

Added bonus for checks- it doesn't cost the store a fee to accept it. :D

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Groceries- Debit card run as credit so we get the points

Gas- Gas card for 10 cents off per gallon = direct debit from checking account

Bills- all online scheduled transactions every paycheck

 

We are trying to use cash for little things to help budget, we spend more if we use debit for little things. It also helps local businesses because the little things on credit are cutting into their bottom line to the point that they are limiting credit/debit transactions.

 

Around here a check doesn't float anything, they show up almost instantly because the stores turn them into an automatic debit. I had to order checks to pay for DD's math class. It drives me nuts because I have to keep track to see if they have cleared. I am to used to real time balances on my account I guess.

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I use checks for everything. WRT the paper trail- I don't know about pp, but my checks are duplicate, so I have a carbon copy, and receipts are easily lost- a book of copies isn't. Costco only takes checks, cash, AmEx, or debit We don't have debit cards at all. They are too easily hacked/stolen. We use the cc (not amex obviously) for gas purchases, online shopping, or emergency- I forgot the checkbook elsewhere.

 

Added bonus for checks- it doesn't cost the store a fee to accept it. :D

 

 

20 years ago I had a book of checks stolen out of my mailbox for an account I rarely used. So 3 checks were written and I only found out when the bank notified me of the overdraft. I had to file a police report, go down to the bank and sign a form swearing I didn't write the checks. It was a huge hassle. I have never had one single problem with my debit card. I do however, watch my account carefully. I was double charged a $9.99 charge and I noticed it...I ended up getting credit for both charges because the vendor felt bad!

 

I was behind an elderly lady the other day writing a check at WM. It took soooooo long. I was not upset or anything...but wow, I sure did notice how long it too compared to debit card which I have swiped and pin entered before the clerk finishes with my order.

 

And I love love love On Line Banking. I still don't use automatic drafting for anything...I like having the control of when the money is taken out.

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I'll float a check at the grocery store if funds are low and there is a great need.

 

I thought floating checks was a thing of the past. Check21 changed that.

 

  • Remember how you used to “float†a check? That’s where you wrote a check, but figured you had a few days to cover the payment. Well, keep remembering it, but don’t do it anymore. Generally speaking, expect the checks you write to clear faster than ever before. Many checks will clear the same day they are deposited.

  • But here’s the catch: your deposited checks won’t clear more quickly. Banks can still play the float game, but you’d better not. Bottom line – Don’t write a check unless the funds are already in your account.

 

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20 years ago I had a book of checks stolen out of my mailbox for an account I rarely used. So 3 checks were written and I only found out when the bank notified me of the overdraft. I had to file a police report, go down to the bank and sign a form swearing I didn't write the checks. It was a huge hassle. I have never had one single problem with my debit card. I do however, watch my account carefully. I was double charged a $9.99 charge and I noticed it...I ended up getting credit for both charges because the vendor felt bad! I was behind an elderly lady the other day writing a check at WM. It took soooooo long. I was not upset or anything...but wow, I sure did notice how long it too compared to debit card which I have swiped and pin entered before the clerk finishes with my order. And I love love love On Line Banking. I still don't use automatic drafting for anything...I like having the control of when the money is taken out.

See, I think it's all about experience/perspective- I've never had an issue w/ checks (and using them has saved our bums a few times), but I have had cc issues more than once. We now only have one, and it's through our CU, and they are very good at catching fraud/attempted fraud. My bank also does automatic overdraft protection on checks (free). I do use automatic w/drawl for utilities and insurance, but nothing else. I don't like online banking because we just have to many virus issues. Maybe if I had a Mac..... :D

 

I thought floating checks was a thing of the past. Check21 changed that.
  • Remember how you used to “float†a check? That’s where you wrote a check, but figured you had a few days to cover the payment. Well, keep remembering it, but don’t do it anymore. Generally speaking, expect the checks you write to clear faster than ever before. Many checks will clear the same day they are deposited.
  • But here’s the catch: your deposited checks won’t clear more quickly. Banks can still play the float game, but you’d better not. Bottom line – Don’t write a check unless the funds are already in your account.

 

Our local grocery store and other local business don't have immediate w/drawl of funds for checks. Chains like WM, Walgreen's, Tractor Supply, etc. do, but local businesses don't.

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See, I think it's all about experience/perspective- I've never had an issue w/ checks (and using them has saved our bums a few times), but I have had cc issues more than once. We now only have one, and it's through our CU, and they are very good at catching fraud/attempted fraud. My bank also does automatic overdraft protection on checks (free). I do use automatic w/drawl for utilities and insurance, but nothing else. I don't like online banking because we just have to many virus issues. Maybe if I had a Mac..... :D

 

 

 

Our local grocery store and other local business don't have immediate w/drawl of funds for checks. Chains like WM, Walgreen's, Tractor Supply, etc. do, but local businesses don't.

 

 

I notice that checks for fund raisers take forever to clear....and dh wrote one to his work for a computer he bought from them....it was written in mid September and still hasn't cleared. I get tired of looking for it....I think it is lost. Dh even asked them about it and they said all checks had been deposited.

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I thought floating checks was a thing of the past. Check21 changed that.
  • Remember how you used to “float†a check? That’s where you wrote a check, but figured you had a few days to cover the payment. Well, keep remembering it, but don’t do it anymore. Generally speaking, expect the checks you write to clear faster than ever before. Many checks will clear the same day they are deposited.
  • But here’s the catch: your deposited checks won’t clear more quickly. Banks can still play the float game, but you’d better not. Bottom line – Don’t write a check unless the funds are already in your account.

 

 

I used to be able to write a check at the grocery store the night my check was going in by direct deposit. Even though the check would come out when they downloaded all the transactions that night, by that point my paycheck would be in too, pretty much at the same time. I used to do this when I needed some cash to get enough gas to get to work/home from work or an urgent grocery need.

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Usually my debit card, but for the past several weeks I've been using checks. I lost my debit card, requested a new one and it never arrived. I finally went back to the bank last Friday and they ordered me yet another card, but in the meantime I've had to start carrying a checkbook because I have no other form of payment.

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I use my debit card for everything except my own personal "allowance" purchases for which I use cash.

 

We're getting a credit card that offers cash back (more for groceries and gas), so I'll start using that and transfer the corresponding amounts from my checking to savings and then pay it off each month.

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Cash only and American Express BlueBird card for bills. We have way too many issues with banks so know we do that. BlueBird is prepaid and if a company doesn't except AMEX for online payments for things like utilities and student loans, they will "send" them a "check". We like it because its all in our control.

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I am just curious how people pay because I still see people using checks and I have no idea why. I am talking about everyday purchases, not paying the phone bill or something like that nor doing something like buying a car.

 

 

We use a credit card with cash back that we pay each month.

 

However, if we didn't use the credit card, I would prefer to use a check. I find it time consuming and frustrating at the checkout but we've had our debit card hacked and so I don't use it now except at the bank's actual atm.

 

I can't remember the last time I saw someone pay with a check.

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