Who still uses cash/checks anymore?

[disneysteve]

Call me paranoid, but while I mainly use CCs, I still prefer having some cash for a backup.

You aren't paranoid at all. In an emergency, cash is king. When power is out, computer networks are down, satellites can't be accessed, cash may be the only accepted payment.

[elessar78]

Until our small town started to "modernize" last year a lot of merchants on Main Street still only took cash. I didn't know about the debit card minimum. I guess you could rat them out but in a small town, ratting out your cousin is frowned upon. .

My bank encourages me to use the e-check. Heck it's convenient and saves on postage. Next best thing to automatic debit. I don't allow auto debit anymore because when THEY screw up it takes them 60 days to put it back into your account.

[creditcardfree]

We primarily use our debit card. However, I pay my daughter's flute teacher in cash, although she would take checks as well. And school needs checks for fundraisers and fees. However, they do take cash and credit cards in some instances. And there is an occasional gift given by check or cash, too.

[QuarterMillionMan]

As much as possible I avoid having to pay the "convenience fee" imposed when using my debit/ATM card, and in addition I prefer not to use my debit card period (stored at home and not carried on my person). Carl's Jr. here in Los Angeles charges an extra $1.00 convenience fee for every transaction using a debit/ATM card. Arco gas stations I believe charges 45 cents convenience fee for every transaction using a debit/ATM card. Arco does not accept credit cards, but they do accept cash though. Another reason I don't like using or carrying my debit card is that if lost someone could have a field day if they crack my 4 digit P.I.N. security code. I even went to my bank to request issuance of a plain old ATM card (no debit card) and they obliged by sending me an ATM card (no debit card). The ATM card is not as versatile as a debit card but in my opinion it doesn't carry as much risk as well either in terms of fraudulent usage, just IMHO.

[LuckyRobin]

We don't even have a debit card. We've tried it twice but my husband always forgets to write down every transaction. It is easier for us to use checks because of the carbon copy. Then nothing is missed when balancing the account. We use checks for groceries, prescriptions, medical bills, dental bills, and for property taxes. We use cash for eating out, parking fees, and personal services (like haircuts). I try to pay online as much as possible for bills but some websites are not as functional as the companies would like you to believe. We use a credit card for gas.

When I do write a check in the grocery store everything is already filled out but the price. I can fill in the amount in the amount of time it takes someone else to sign their name on a debit/credit slip, but I write fast. I have used the credit card on occasion at one store and their system does not let you swipe until after the total has been totalled and then it is slow in approving (slower than their check approval system) and then you still have to sign it. Most of them make you enter in your zipcode these days before they will even process your swipe. Then finally they print your receipt. So I think it's pretty much a wash between using a card or writing a check unless you are writing a check with arthritic fingers.

[Like2Plan]

I was surprised at how few checks we use anymore, but we still use them.
My hair dresser takes cash or checks. Then, there are the occasional gift checks to family members. This year we did several big home projects-new roof, new chimney, new cement stairs, new hand railing and so on. Most of the contractors only took checks.

[MonkeyMama]

We have mostly been cashless for a long time. The only time we use cash is for bridge tolls (rare) or the random mom/pop place that doesn't take credit. So we usually keep an "emergency $20" in each of our wallets. Every year is a little easier to go cashless.

This year I am trying to go checkless. I have been primarily using online bill pay for well over a decade (I don't pay anything automatically, but it is an extraordinarily simple way to pay bills every month). All transfers between bank accounts and brokerages have always been electronic, for me. I have always largely avoided mail due to lots of mail fraud and mail issues where I live.

Going checkless:

1 - the school just started taking paypal this year, and so that helps a lot! As we are requested to reimburse the public school for this or that (t-shirts, supplies, field trip fees).

2 - Individuals are not an obstacle - I pay all individuals online (they receive a check in the mail - but saves me the time, and the checks. Does not generally save me a stamp as I could hand deliver these payments).

3 - I pay all taxes electronically (deducts from bank account). Paid at government website so it is all applied correctly.

4 - All donations can be made through paypal. I'll usually add a few bucks so the charity doesn't have to eat the fees. The convenience and credit card rewards are just too good to pay in a different manner (though I generally am not a huge fan of paypal).

I wrote six checks this year:

Dept. of Consumer Affairs (for license renewal) - could not pay online since I had to send payment with application, piano tuner only accepted cash or check, furniture delivery only accepted cash or check (without more fees anyway), a heater repairman, and 2 checks to the school (yearbooks) before they took paypal. I may have done 100 online "bill pays" this year.

I do not own a debit card, we rack up the credit cards for rewards (everyday purchases); pay off monthly. we do treat our credit cards as if they were debit cards.

We only spent $50 in cash, for the entire year. We generally deposit all the cash we come into - rarely withdraw cash.

[cypher1]

Another reason I don't like using or carrying my debit card is that if lost someone could have a field day if they crack my 4 digit P.I.N. security code. I even went to my bank to request issuance of a plain old ATM card (no debit card) and they obliged by sending me an ATM card (no debit card). The ATM card is not as versatile as a debit card but in my opinion it doesn't carry as much risk as well either in terms of fraudulent usage, just IMHO.

That's how I feel with my check card since it's also tied to my short term savings account. I may have to look into just an ATM card since I hardly do use checking anymore for daily transactions.

[SavingSweetOneL]

I use debit cards, (2), checks and cash for my purchases.

I use my main debit card, for purchases in resturants, gas, grocery stores, and stores such as Dollar Stores/Walgreens/Walmart.

I use checks to pay my rent, and for Utlities. To pay the vet. Sometimes, for the purchase of an item from a private person. And, my monthly bulk purchase of food from my Food Co-op. I pay my tithe with a check.

Cash is used to pay for lawn care, thrift stores, resturant tips, sometimes resturant food, grocery food, (such as chocolate, bottle water, etc.) and handyman services. Most of my church donations that are not the tithe. And, for beauty, such as having my hair done, and my nails.

I use paypal for online puchases, usually eBay, or other companies.

SweetOneL