Yes, I still keep a checkbook

In some ways I am very up on the latest technologies; I have an iPhone 6Plus, I stream my favorite shows on Netflix, and I have profiles on every social media platform. In other ways, though, I am very old-fashioned, for example I still keep a checkbook and use it fairly regularly.

I was raised in a very traditional household where my mom wrote checks for everything and recorded withdrawals and deposits in her check register. It was only a few years ago I explained to her that using a debit card was spending money from the same account. I do pay many of my bills online, but I also keep my checkbook in my wallet and prefer using it in certain instances and here is why…

It is my routine.

When it is time to pay my bills each month, the routine of sitting down and paying some via writing checks is just something I am used to. Like other habits, whether they are the most efficient or not, it is often difficult to change directions or alter personal practices.

It keeps me organized.

Using my checkbook helps me to feel organized and it gives me the sense of having crossed something off my personal to-do list. Granted I do login and pay some of my bills from my computer or mobile device, but I still like the intentional act of paying bills and sending them off. Also, I do not feel totally outdated in that some of my bills, including my child’s preschool tuition and my homeowners’ association fees, can only be paid by check.

It is how I learned to manage my personal finances.

When I opened my first personal checking account, my mom taught me how to pay my bills and how to properly write checks. Yes, it is true that that was 15 years ago and technology has advanced tremendously, but as the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.”

I do catch a lot of grief when I pull out my checkbook. I am 33 years old, but the action of signing my name to a check results in laughing fits from my friends and “old lady” comments. It is important to remember, though, that your finances are your own and you can decide to manage them anyway you choose. Like other things in life you have to do what’s best for you.

Wendy Moody

Wendy Moody

Wendy Moody is a Senior Editor with CUInsight.com. Wendy works with the editorial team to help edit the content including current news, press releases, jobs and events. She keeps ... Web: www.cuinsight.com Details