Goodbye Checks

I really despise banks.  

We left a bank a few months ago.  Their policies had changed.  My husband's direct deposits weren't being deposited when they were supposed to, but checks were being cleared.  The overdraft fees added up quickly.

It seemed the credit union we chose would be better.  Deposits are immediately available.  However, we have a couple of bills that are automatic withdrawals.  They couldn't seem to figure out which bank to withdrawal the bill from, despite numerous phone calls.  We were told it would come out of one account, only to find it was withdrawn from the other.  It took two months to be able to close the old bank account.  The fresh start with a new account had already acquired overdraft fees.

We did well for awhile.  Then, last month, the Satellite company accidentally double-billed our account.  They returned the money, but it took days!  Sure enough...we were slapped with more overdraft fees.

I don't have any respect for banks.  I think they take advantage of people that are struggling financially. 

I won't completely blame banks for everything.  I've made mistakes.  My husband has messed up, purchasing gas or lunch and forget to give me the receipt.

I've learned my weak spots through the years.   To change things, I have to eliminate... Or make really inconvenient...my weak spots.  Today, I made a big decision.  NO MORE CHECKS!!!

I used my last check last week.  I am refusing to order more.  Checks are my weak point.  I know that I can quite a check at certain places and it won't clear for at least two days.  So...when I run low on Wednesday, I know I can write a check and it won't hit my account until Friday...payday.

 

The problems arise when I spend more than I should.  While I wish I was very disciplined, the truth is that I'm not.  We live on a very limited income.  Every dime counts.  I don't spend extravagantly.  But, I don't plan add well as I should some days.

I've attempted to live off of cash several times.  It's difficult to pay bills that way when nearly all the bills have to be mailed.  However, I truly believe that any spending, after bills, should be cash.

First, cash is less convenient.  Many grumble about that, but the  inconvenience isn't horrible.  Yes, I have to think ahead so I know I have cash.  Yes, I have to actually go into the gas station to pay for fuel.  But I'm not a baby.  I can handle it.

Cash is harder to hand over.  It's tangible.  When I have a $20 bill in my hand, and it's my last $20, breaking it for a soda is difficult.  It really is!  But I could swipe my debit card or even write out a check without batting an eye.  Why?  I asked myself that very question numerous times.  I can only rationalize that checks and debit cards don't seem like real money.

I feel the same way about direct deposits and paying bills online.  It's all just numbers on a page or a screen.  My husband's job requires direct deposit for payroll checks, so there is no choice there.  And while I could withdrawal cash for bills, I would then have to spend money to purchase money orders.  While I'm praying about whether I want to do that, the option for online bill pay is free.  I've had a couple issues with the online bill pay, and hesitate to use it regularly.

Like I said, I hate banks.

Earlier today I opened my desk drawer.  I began pulling out the duplicate check carbons, check registers, and deposit slips.  It was crazy!  I had three years worth of checks in one drawer.  When I counted the number of carbon books for the duplicates, I realized I had thirty-six, not including the used up one still in my wallet.  That adds up to over 900 checks in three years!  

That is a lot of checks.  And since I haven't used checks to pay bills, with the exception of my town water bill, in at least five years; these 900 checks have been written at places like the local gas station, Walmart, the grocery store, and at my church for tithes.

Except for tithes, I have to wonder how much less I would have spent if I had paid cash instead of writing out a check.   Of course, these 900 checks aren't the only purchases.  We have debit cards also.  In fact, my husband hates checks.  He despises taking the time to write one out.  So, his purchases have been mostly with his debit card.  

I wanted to get rid of these check carbons.  I don't own a shredder.  Some of these have personal information written on them that was originally written on the check, such as driver's license numbers or phone numbers.  While banks don't put account numbers on the duplicate check copy, I still didn't feel that just throwing them away was safe.  

My older girls and I had a small bonfire this evening.  I burnt the carbons.  It was cathartic.  I'm taking away my "too easy".  I'm taking away most of my ability to spend too much.  I'm taking away my ability to "play games", such as writing a check knowing that the money won't be in the account for two days.

Just a thought....has anyone considered burning our government's checkbook? 

I will admit that I haven't gotten rid of debit cards.  The debit card is useful to me.  I order homeschool curriculum online, pay a couple bills with it, etc.  These aren't daily expenses, and are carefully planned.  However, the debit card is staying at home instead of being best friends with my wallet.

 

I can't close my bank account entirely, though I wish I could.  It seemed like the old days of cash was simpler.  

And don't think I'm not aware that, by using cash, all the tracking and data mining takes a hit.  Ha! 

I get frustrated by anything that I feel controls me.  I quit smoking because I hated that it controlled me.  I quit drinking soda for the same reason.  Getting the spending habits of my household under control is important to me.  Cutting bills, reducing expenses; it all solves nothing if I overspend that dollar here, dollar there, and incur overdrafts because of it.

Lord, give me guidance to do what needs to be done.  In Jesus' name.