Method of paying bills and chump change

[Old School]

:shrug:


wondering how members here pay the bills.

I still write checks for over 95% of our bills.

I have a feelin' I am in a huge minority of people who like to pay their bill this way..

HOW DO YOU PAY...:shrug:


probably goes hand in hand but I also carry around $200.00-$300.00 for everyday pocket money and pay cash for nearly all our everyday expenses.

I'm probably in the "Old School" % there as well.

Interested to know..

:0corn

 

[layinwood]

I don't even have a check book anymore.

Almost every single one of my bills is paid on auto draft and it's because they all give me a discount to do it. Most are around 5% discount if not more. I went to every company I have a bill with and found out how to get the biggeset discount I could and went with that method. It's not a ton monthly but over the course of a year it adds up to be a LOT in the grand scheme of things. Over the course of the next 30 years it will be enough to be something to hang my hat on as far as I'm concerned. Seriously, you figure 5% of your bills and for me that adds up.

 

[MadJack]

I write very few checks anymore. I think I'm down to one a month since I can pay State and Fed tax online now too.

Everything is done with online bill pay for me.

Simple everyday purchases, like gas, groceries, and everything else is just about 90% AMEX.

 

[hedgehog]

i pay everything online through my bank except kids daycare i write checks. i carry at least a hundred in cash on me at all times and use credit card like cash and pay balance each month

 

[gardenweasel]

I don't even have a check book anymore.

Almost every single one of my bills is paid on auto draft and it's because they all give me a discount to do it. Most are around 5% discount if not more. I went to every company I have a bill with and found out how to get the biggeset discount I could and went with that method. It's not a ton monthly but over the course of a year it adds up to be a LOT in the grand scheme of things. Over the course of the next 30 years it will be enough to be something to hang my hat on as far as I'm concerned. Seriously, you figure 5% of your bills and for me that adds up.

what are you sayin`,layin`(lol)?....if you have a $400 g & e bill,because you pay it in this manner,they only make you pay $380?....they pick up 20 of it?....

i use an atm/credit card and checks(hell,they`re free)...

 

[MadJack]

what are you sayin`,layin`(lol)?....if you have a $400 g & e bill,because you pay it in this manner,they only make you pay $380?....they pick up 20 of it?....

I didn't know that either. If that's available, I'll pay differently too. :0074

 

[The Joker]

I don't physically pay anything. EVERYTHING is paid automatically and comes out of checking each month. My wife and I monitor the account everyday though. We don't do car payments or credit cards so the only bills we have are - Utilities and Mortgage.

 

[layinwood]

what are you sayin`,layin`(lol)?....if you have a $400 g & e bill,because you pay it in this manner,they only make you pay $380?....they pick up 20 of it?....

i use an atm/credit card and checks(hell,they`re free)...

Yes, that's what I'm saying. Not all companies do it. I switched electric companies because my old one wouldn't do it. Call them and ask. My insurance bill went down big time from this and a few other things. Basically I took every bill, called them or one of their competitors and figured out how to get the biggest discount. I'm pretty loose with my money but if I'm going to HAVE to pay something then I get it done for as cheap as I can.

 

[Old School]

I switched electric companies

wow ..cities have more than one w/all the utilities in place so there is no delay of service..

unreal...have had a monopoly here in Va. forever..

 

[dawgball]

We write two checks each month.

Daycare and mortgage.

Everything else is online bill pay.

I usually have $50-100 in my pocket at most times, but I use my debit card for just about everything.

My tithing for church is even on auto-draft now...

 

[yyz]

I walked in to pay the cable bill yesterday!


Five other people, too!

 

[The Joker]

My tithing for church is even on auto-draft now...

While I understand this - it is still weird.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

:shrug:


wondering how members here pay the bills.

I still write checks for over 95% of our bills.

I have a feelin' I am in a huge minority of people who like to pay their bill this way..

HOW DO YOU PAY...:shrug:


probably goes hand in hand but I also carry around $200.00-$300.00 for everyday pocket money and pay cash for nearly all our everyday expenses.

I'm probably in the "Old School" % there as well.

Interested to know..

:0corn

Ditto here on all counts--don't have a debit card--have never used an atm.

Go to bank once a month--keep out monthly allowance--use cash for most. Write checks for utilities. Only thing I have auto deducted is insurance with premiums that don't change--life-Di -and Aflac.

 

[layinwood]

Ditto here on all counts--don't have a debit card--have never used an atm.

Go to bank once a month--keep out monthly allowance--use cash for most. Write checks for utilities. Only thing I have auto deducted is insurance with premiums that don't change--life-Di -and Aflac.

Why not use a debit card? I don't use any credit cards but I do use debit cards. I get points back, it's quicker than cash now and I can track my spending if I ever want to without having to write anything down. IMO there's only an upside to it now. Maybe there's a downside but I don't see it.

 

[MadJack]

Why not use a debit card? I don't use any credit cards but I do use debit cards. I get points back, it's quicker than cash now and I can track my spending if I ever want to without having to write anything down. IMO there's only an upside to it now. Maybe there's a downside but I don't see it.

I don't use them either. The ONLY time one would have come in handy would have been in Vegas or some other casino and that's bad news most likely.

I use AMEX so I guess it's about the same thing.

 

[gardenweasel]

Why not use a debit card? I don't use any credit cards but I do use debit cards. I get points back, it's quicker than cash now and I can track my spending if I ever want to without having to write anything down. IMO there's only an upside to it now. Maybe there's a downside but I don't see it.

also,if you lose it,i believe that it`s useless to the "finder" without the pin #....

i think it`s the greatest thing since sliced bread...

 

[wareagle]

i always carry cash

m'fers that break out the focking CC or debit card for a loaf of bread or rack of bananas at the grocery store drive me insane

pay most bills online

can tithe my church as well online

 

[gardenweasel]

i always carry cash

m'fers that break out the focking CC or debit card for a loaf of bread or rack of bananas at the grocery store drive me insane

i agree with this....but those electronic transactions only take seconds...

it`s the s.o.b.`s that whip out the checkbook that make my nostrils flare...:mj07:

 

[RollTide72]

I've started a new budget for myself this year.

I give myself a $250 a week allowance out of each paycheck. This includes groceries, nights out on the town, poker games with friends, etc. When it's gone I'm done til next Thursday (payday).

All other bills I pay via my bank account online. I haven't had a checkbook for several years. While I still have a debit card unless I absolutely need to use it, I'm going the cash route this year. If I don't have it on me, then I don't need it.

I put back $250 a week in my savings account as well. Trying to build up a nice nest egg this year.

 

[marine]

Why not use a debit card? I don't use any credit cards but I do use debit cards. I get points back, it's quicker than cash now and I can track my spending if I ever want to without having to write anything down. IMO there's only an upside to it now. Maybe there's a downside but I don't see it.

Biggest difference between debit and credit cards:

With a debit card, if someone steals your info and wipes out your checking account with purchases or just transfers the money out - you are out that money instantly. Yes, banks have a $0 or $50 limit on your losses - but that money is gone. You are going to sit there and be at a zero balance until that money is put back in your account after a thorough review from your bank. Which can take a few days.

With a credit card - you haven't physically lost anything.. just available credit. the credit card company will cancel the transaction and you will feel no pain at all.


Most people have debit cards tied to their primary checking account.. which is also usually tied in at the same bank with your savings accounts, and other vital information. Hacking a debit card exposes EVERYTHING.

With a credit card - getting hacked just exposes that card's info.. unless you have all the same logins and passwords and info the same across the board.. then it could get a little hairier.