Although personal checks are still in circulation, the use of them has strongly declined.  That being said, I remain a strong advocate of using checks. There are really so many advantages that the use of personal checks offer.  Many people just opt for the use of credit cards for its conveniences, but upon further introspection of the situation they will realize shortly that check books are not extinct and that in reality there are many reasons to keep on using them.

For starters, checks have a way of keeping you very organized.  It’s certainly much faster to swipe the plastic.  The fact is that since it’s so easy to swipe most often you don’t put much thought into doing so. You simply swipe the card without thinking about whether there is enough money to cover, or if this purchase is something that you can really afford.  Taking the time to write checks actually forces you to think about the transaction. After you write the checks you will need to write it down inside your checks register where you will right away see if there is sufficient fund.  The last thing you want to do is overspend and create credit card debt, with no means to pay the bills with the high interest rates.

Using checks and going through your bank statement usually goes hand in hand.  When you reconcile your check book and go through your bank statements, you are bound to find bank errors and mistakes that you would have never found. Why pay for mistakes that the banks make or careless errors that other vendors make.

Also Checks don’t expire.  By carrying around checks with you will always a method of payment that you can rely on. You won’t come to the check out only to realize that your credit cards have expired or that they don’t take the credit cards that you have.  You don’t want to have large amounts of cash on you for security reasons.  So if you are making a large purchase, using checks is the most secure option.

When you think about it you will realize that now every transaction or service can be paid for with credit cards.  For instance, if you have a babysitter to pay for or if you need to pay back your friend for a purchase you cannot turn to them with a credit card to swipe for payment. If you don’t have cash on you all the time, you will need to have checks handy. You don’t want to find yourself running to the nearby ATM at midnight to be able to pay your babysitter.

Lastly, unlike the generic credit cards, you can order customized checks at the same low price of regular checks.  Why not add some personality to your life and to all those bills that you need to pay by opting for unique checks.  This is something that you cannot get with credit cards or cash.  Show your true colors with your checks.