Personally, I find direct deposit a lot easier, but I've also always used a checking account.

The only problem with direct deposit is that my paycheck "magically appears" in my account, and it doesn't seem like real money, so I spend it faster than I should. Getting a physical paycheck forces me to be more conscious and slow down my spending. Eh, well.

I've been direct deposit for ten years, at least.

I still get a paper check each week.

Direct deposit, though I wish cash were on option. Ever notice how everyone else can dictate how we pay, but no one allows us to dictate how we get paid?

I'm not so sure about that TripleT - the $2 thing...

It is specifically designed to penalize you and bully you into getting a checking account. The one we had at a former employer (and I doubt that where you are would be any different) had a $.99 fee for using the card in a store, $.99 for withdrawing the money. Only certain banks/branches were available and they were always in really bad locations as in just impossible to get to, not problem areas. And there was a limit on how much you could not only withdraw at once but withdraw within 24 hours.

Chase Checking - it's a godsend when it comes to banks. We just recently made a large purchase and by the time my husband got from the store to the house, Chase had called to find out if it was a legit purchase and not someone who stole our cards. It's free with direct deposit and it's one of the easiest banks to work with that I know of.

I don't work, but my husband still receives a paper check.

I still get a paper check.

China is still mainly a cash society when you leave the big cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenzhen, Guangzhou), and there you can use your debit or credit card pretty much like you could in Western countries.

Leave those cities and you could be screwed. Only major and big fancy hotels and restaurants will for sure accept credit or debit. Banks might take them and let you withdraw money. Larger stores are now accepting debit, but credit is iffy.

Cash is still how most of society does business. I get paid in a stack of bills each month.

We have the option for checks, but nobody really does that. Direct deposit is so much easier!

direct deposit

Our company offers check and direct deposit, and every so often offers up the unpleasant surprise of, "Oops, we forgot to do direct deposit this month so here's a live check!"

I love Direct Deposit--it's one less thing I have to do in a day.

My hubbies job is talking about doing away with them as well. But for those that can't do direct deposit charging them $10.00 per check. Seriously, WTF? He doesn't have a bank account because he wouldn't have any money in it because creditors would take it. I could open one in my name, but I'd have to put his name on it and they could still take all of our money. He knows he needs to file bankrupt, but that takes cash and we need to move and buy a car. (As we are driving a 2 door car for a family of 4 and it needs a new transmission and a bunch of other work. We live in a one bedroom house for the family of 4 too. We have to move and get a car before we can do anything else.) With no over time lately, we are stuck with what we have.

My agency doesn't have direct deposit. I wish they did. I HATE going to the bank. Like true anxiety attack time every time I have to go into a bank. I use a regional/local bank and have completely free checking, with no fees for most things. I am not charged for most debit card uses, as long as it's for commercial purposes etc. I don't use ATMs to get money, I prefer to go to a teller and just stock up while I'm there.

My husband has direct deposit and loves it. He has a different bank than I do, and they have some fees for falling under a certain balance etc. which is why I don't use it.

I have 2 paychecks, 2 travel expense checks and a "make up" check (for when I was underpaid for a service) that have to be brought to the bank. UG. I wish they would "magically" appear in my checking account. I live in the Chicago area and truly don't know anyone who doesn't have a checking account. I've had bank accounts since I was a small child and checking accounts since I was 17, I can't imagine not having one.

Even though he has a checking account (which he uses as if he lived in Mad Men days, actually still writing checks and mailing them for his bills. It drive me CRAZY and I'm trying to get him to use the internet or at least phone in payments more. He sometimes gets payments in late, because of the mail, and then we all suffer.)

He doesn't have a debit card, he doesn't even have an ATM card, which drives me crazy because with an ATM card, at least you can get cash in emergencies. He's always broke on Sunday Mornings, and has to whine until the bank window opens so he can get enough cash for Sunday and Monday. Like most Bohemians in Chicago, he visits his bank with more regularity than he visits his mother. He goes to the bank at least once a day, which I find a waste of time, and anxiety producing to boot. I just take out enough cash I think I'll need for the month and not go back. Sadly, (or not) most of my purchases are on credit cards. I stopped using cash a lot many years ago. As long as you pay your credit card bills every month and keep track of what you spend, it seems to work for me. I actually spend more with cash on hand, I do better with plastic.

I get paid via a direct deposit debit card, and I like it a lot. I either use the card to pull out money, or pay bills online. The only thing that is a bummer is the card I have to use charges almost $5 each time you take out money, so I usually just pay for everything with the card. $5 is a huge fee to me. Most debit cards I had in the past are between $2-3. I could go get an actual check *cashed* for $5. Still, I like my little debit card.

I've had employers where the only available method was by check, and I've had employers where the only available method was by direct deposit. Both are fine---but when I was living rurally (and mailing paper checks in to deposit at the (urban) bank every other week) I was extremely grateful that debit cards work everywhere. No way could I have driven to a city to withdraw money to use every two weeks. And establishing a bank account just for a 6 month employment contract would seem really silly.

Anyway, both work for me. And I'm grateful that the world has been made convenient.

Cash!!

i dont work, but my mother gets a debit card (she works at a gas station) and she doesn't mind it, but i think that would drive me crazy.

at the end of my work a few years ago at Kwong Wah (resturant, my old employer paid me in drinks and chinese food because she was losing money

I get paid through direct deposit and I LOVE it! It's definitely my first preference!

I love having direct deposit! I find it more convenient than depositing my check myself.

We resisted direct deposit for a long time, but definitely find it much more convenient. There's talk at my company of forcing everyone to direct deposit as well, and even though we're using it, I don't like the company dictating how I should handle my personal finances. If someone does not want direct deposit, it should remain their choice, regardless of their reasons.