A recent article talked about how check use is dropping drastically and how young kids don't use checks at all. I only use them for paying for a local massage with a woman who doesn't take credit cards. All my bills auto-pay onto credit cards.

For the people who still use checks - what do you use them for?

I use checks and cash. I Do NOT use credit cards. I do not have a credit card to my name. I am glad of it too.

Checks are only for things that i have to pay for through the mail.

I use checks. For example if we pay the electric bill via internet or call, there is a $3.50 charge so I try to write a check for that. There are other service bills, like my trash collectors, that have not made it to the current century and I still can't pay that on line - I either mail it or have to call it in.

I rarely use checks. My credit union has a bill pay service so, for those people who don't take credit cards or electronic payments, the CU will write and send the check for me. Handy! I use checks only for places I go in person who don't take credit cards, like the doggy day care place. Other than that, I'll all electronic now!

Craig58 - on one hand I completely think it's not a good idea to build a debt. On the other hand, if you have no credit rating, you're going to be killed when you try to buy a car or house. Your interest rate will be high so you'll pay thousands more than you should. So you'll lose thousands of dollars of money.

It's a trade-off - you have to build a solid credit rating, but do so without "carrying" credit card debt. I.e. you have to use the cards, but pay them off each month.

You can still get by with no credit, but it's a lot harder. So for me, to buy a house I had to find an 'owner carry' situation. With the economy like it is right now, that wasn't too hard. Small silver lining! :-)

I use checks rarely, but I love to use them as they are legend now. As letters are looking classical way of communication, checks also looks a classical/old fashion of payments.

The payment mode depends on the acceptability of third party, however these days there is indeed high usage of credit cards as compared to checks.

In my town here I can only pay my water bill by cash or check. it's kind of annoying - am so happy with paying everything with debit cards or online. Maybe I can do an online bill pay.