subject: Using Personal Checks for Expression and Emergencies [print this page] Using Personal Checks for Expression and Emergencies
Even though you own a bank account, do you hold off purchasing personal checks because few businesses accept them? Although fewer retail establishments take checks, they are not an obsolete transaction. However, as many companies that require monthly payments (a bank for any loans, the cable company, and utility company, for instance) still take checks, this form of financial transactions might not even be considered obsolescent just specialized. If you have a bank account and use a credit card, still have a book of personal checks on hand. You never know when you may need one to pay a bill or in an emergency.
Have you ever had your wallet, with all cash and cards inside, stolen? Or, did an ATM eat your debit or credit card? Unless you have a backup card at home or a stash of cash, you will be limited for the next few weeks until the replacement card arrives. In unforeseeable instances like this (who predicts losing a wallet two weeks ahead of time?), personal checks are ideal as backup. For the next two weeks, you will still have access to a bank account, but instead of swiping a card for groceries or entering account numbers online for bill paying, you just need to fill out a check.
Because identity theft through ATMs and the internet is a growing crime, using cards makes some cautious. After all, how do you know a third-party is not stealing your personal information online as you pay your rent, cable, or utility bill with a credit card? Being discreet with where and how you use card numbers is important to prevent future financial disaster, and personal checks are one approach. When it comes time to pay a bill, just fill out a check, attach a stub, and put it in the mail.
Aside from practicality and use as backup, personal checks are still forms of expression. Instead of settling on a solid-color set of checks, choose a design that reflects your personality. Check printers offer many style possibilities, and even though the checks are not issued through your bank, they still link to your account and will display routing and account numbers at the bottom. From typical floral patterns to other colorful images, personal checks are still practical items that display your style. Although carrying a checkbook in your purse is not necessary anymore, having a set of checks at home is helpful for emergencies or non-card transactions.
