TravelingChris Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeschoolMamaOfTwo Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 We use our credit card for EVERYTHING and then pay it off at the end of the month. We don't buy more this way (I've tried testing it) and we get the majority of our Disney vacation paid with the Disney Visa Rewards this way. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Credit card (with rewards/miles) for everything. Balance is paid in full each month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I either use cash or my VISA check card, which is a debit card with the protection of a credit card. The only time I write a check is when I buy something at a mom and pop store and don't have enough on me to pay cash. I hate for them to have to pay the CC company fees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mnemosyne Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Credit card (that we pay in full every month). We get money back every time we do, so it's a no-brainer. If there is some kind of fee, we use our debit or cash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chocolate Rose Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 It depends. Sometimes I write a check, sometimes I use cash, and sometimes I use my debit card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 debit for purchases under 50 or so. credit for over since we get points on our cc for a rebate at the end of the year. we pay it off each ml th so there are no interest fees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snow Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Credit card (that we pay in full every month). We get money back every time we do, so it's a no-brainer. If there is some kind of fee, we use our debit or cash. Ditto for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freesia Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Credit card (with rewards/miles) for everything. Balance is paid in full each month. This is what we do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Credit card for everything to accrue points. We get a lot of cash back every year and use that toward vacation. I need to use cash for gas though. It's cheaper here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted January 28, 2013 Author Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 credit card, pay it off end of the month. (and I LOVE the stores - e.g. target/home depot - that are now keeping the purchase in computer memory so I don't need to bring a reciept if I return something. just swipe my cc.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Credit card w/rewards, paid in full monthly. The only time I've used a check in the past decade or so is when I've been buying something for our dojo, so I used the club's checkbook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luanne Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Food = food stamp card Gas = debit card Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I vote credit card. We use that for everything except gas stations which we pay cash to get the discount and because of too many card skimming cases at gas stations. We use cash for mom and pop shops but we seldom go there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skimomma Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 We use credit card and pay it off every month. We've never had debit cards. We feel the credit card is a safer transaction than debit. Debit cards are direct access to personal savings accounts, credit are not. If the card becomes compromised I don't want my bank accounts compromised as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissKNG Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Credit card = gas, car maintenance, most meals out. Debit card or cash = groceries and household needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tearose Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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.). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Everything goes on the credit card and gets paid off at the end of the month. Most shops in the UK don't take cheques any more. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Credit card paid off every month that gives us cash back that I use for Christmas presents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I use my debit cards for pretty much everything. I have a Visa-branded one tied to our checking account, and I have a Target debit card, which has no fees and gets me 5% off everything I buy from them. I write checks only for a few things like my son's dance classes and choir tuition. I pay most of our bills online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 On each payday I go take out my cash for everything....food, gas, shopping, etc...I pay only cash now....and seem to have so much more left at the end of the pay period this way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilltop Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Credit card with rewards that is paid off every month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acorn Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Credit card for everything. It is paid off each month, we spend the same regardless of payment method, and the rewards equal free money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I use a debit card. I used to prefer checks but all my favorite places stopped taking checks. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I use my credit card. We do stick to a budget and pay them off every month, so it's the same as cash. Plus, we have an Amazon card and we get points which I use for school stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 We put absolutely everything possible on a credit card that gets us airline miles for every $ spent. We pay it off each month. I use debit card at Aldi's - the only exception, since they do not take CC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeacefulChaos Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 We do all debit. We have a couple of credit cards but they're for emergencies mostly - we don't get points or anything on them. I don't even know how to get a credit card that does have points on it lol. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wabi Sabi Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyJoy Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoCandJ Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Debit typically because most of our groceries come from Costco. I do use CC some at other stores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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