Check Accounts

We may be in the digital age but checks and checking accounts were the only viable way to conduct your day-to-day financial affairs at both a personal and business level.  With the advent of new technologies, financial transactions can happen at the flick of a mouse button; but the reality is that computers and the internet, have not quite made the humble check redundant.

It's a truism that people use checks far less than say 20 years ago.  Credit cards, online payment channels like PayPal are an easy and convenient alternative.  There are however some situations that just cry out for the old fashioned check.

Stalling Payments

Occaisionally when your cash flow is slow you may want to slow down your own payments.  Cash flow is all important and paying a bill by check can buy you a day or two extra.  By the time you put your payment in the mail, your creditor banks the check, and then it clears at your bank can easily take 2 or 3 days.  However for all intents and purposes you have paid the moment your creditor receives the payment.

Banking Safely

This may sound like a misnomer, but if you get a bank draft (or bank cheque depending what country you live in), these are guaranteed by the bank and are virtually as good as cash, with the added bonus of the check being written in the name of the recipient.  Many financial transactions demand this level of security.  A good example is a bond I just paid on my rented apartment.  The realtor insisted that I make the first payment and bond by bank check for security.

Business Still Like Checks

It sounds a little quaint, but many business still like to use checks to pay their bills.  They are easily mailed and provide a written record of your payment in the stub.  Many small business owners like to sit down with their checkbook and pile of bills once a month and clear all their bills in one sitting.

There are many more possible uses for the old fashioned check.  A takes just a little imagination to think of ways that using checks could make your life a little easier.  If you haven't written on for a while give it a try.