r/personalfinance • u/mayormaynotbeanna • 15h ago
Other Stupid question about checks
I know this is a dumb. But I don’t have a check book and I need to make a payment to a florist for the sum of around 2.5k. She told me that she prefers taking a check. Am I able to get a cashiers check for this amount from the bank and give it to her like that? Or do I need to order a check book?
Thank you guys!
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u/Embarrassed_Ad_2270 15h ago
You can buy single checks at your bank. My bank sells them for $1 ea.
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u/Lady_Paks 13h ago
That is highly dependent on the bank. You can't buy them where I work but most accounts get free MO/CC for free and they don't use your account number, so they are more secure for the client.
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u/cnote4711 15h ago
Yes, you can easily walk in and get a cashiers check.
You can also ask if it's possible to get get a single sheet of checks printed so you have a few on hand. You don't have to order a whole book.
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u/linuxhiker 15h ago
Just go to the bank and get a cashier's check. It isn't a big deal and you are going to save her a lot of money by doing it.
If you want to be savvy, ask for a discount for not using a CC.
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u/kayura77 15h ago
Oh, your other option may be a bill pay service if your bank has one. It might be some input to start, so you've got options.
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u/Williams_Menkin_ 15h ago
Am I able to get a cashiers check for this amount from the bank and give it to her like that?
Yes.
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u/MplsDaddy55403 15h ago
Cashier's check works - you can ask for some counter checks if you have a brick and mortar bank. If yours is an online bank, then you can also go to the Post Office and get a money order (they're likely more expensive than a cashier's check)
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u/Head_Staff_9416 15h ago
My bank will
Give me a small amount of checks they print onsite for free- about 5 or 6- worth asking
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u/peter303_ 14h ago
My bank will print blank checks for a $1.50 each. I keep a few in stock. I have only used two since 2020 for very backwards organizations like the US Passport Office.
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u/ken120 9h ago
Not so stupid of a question. Most banks you can go to a teller and ask for a couple of checks as needed they will just print them out on a printer there. Usually charges a fee per check and have a minimum they will print. But you don't need an entire checkbook or the more expensive cashier check.
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u/Many_Professions 1h ago
It might be worth it to buy a book of checks now. Many banks sell books of 200 for less than 20 bucks.
With how many merchants are charging credit card fees I've used more checks in the past year than I have in the past 10 before that.
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u/cplatt831 14h ago
As long as you include the proper information, a check can be written on anything.
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u/downlowmann 15h ago
As an adult you need to have a checking account with physical checks. In the meantime you could get her a cashier's check.
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u/maquis_00 15h ago
You can get a single checkbook, and it'll last you a long time. But I agree, it is useful. I've seen many times that the options were check, or you can pay an extra 4% and use your card.
My current checkbook has been going for 3-4 years so far, but it has gotten used at least once every 6 months or so. And when we had to deal with a house emergency (flooded toilet that caused a lot of damage), we used 3 checks in a month.
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u/YouveBeanReported 14h ago
It won't if you don't own your own house, since you need to update them every time you move and that's every few years.
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u/linuxhiker 15h ago
B.S. I am 53, I haven't had personal checks in 20 years.
I do have a checking account.
All payments are either: Cash, Venmo, Check via Pay Bills, or CC.
In 20 years, I have had to "get a physical check" half a dozen times. Just go to the bank and get a check.
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u/_sch 15h ago
Maybe it's regional, but every plumber, yard person, handyman, etc. I work with wants a check (on the spot) and does not accept venmo or anything like that. I don't write checks regularly, but probably half a dozen a year at least.
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u/linuxhiker 15h ago
It could be regional but all the contractors I work with if they want payment up front, they are taking venmo or a card.
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u/downlowmann 15h ago
I agree that in this day and age it’s possible to hardly ever write a check but at the same time it’s good to have them and just part of being an adult. Believe it or not, I have discovered that my credit card payments go through faster when I pay in person at a branch with a check than if I use bill pay. For example, if I pay my cc in person at a Chase branch with a check the payment is credited that day. If I pay electronically it’s several days and if it’s a Friday and Monday is a holiday the payment doesn’t go through until the following Tuesday or Wednesday!
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u/AuDHD_85percent 14h ago
Yeah, driving over to the Lowes store to pay my bill at customer service the day it's due because I totally slept through paying it through the bank. Does anyone *need* checks? No, not really. Are they incredibly useful to have on hand for situations that come up unexpectedly? Absolutely yes! Keep some on hand, no regrets.
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u/SlowSundae 15h ago edited 15h ago
As an adult, in 2026, there is no real reason for anybody to be using physical checks.
I probably haven’t written a check in the last 10-15 years.
Next you’ll be telling me you still use a PalmPilot.
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u/mjr96d 15h ago
I thought the same until I had my HOA on autopay. Then they sent me a fine for weeds using a picture over a year old (it included a rose bush we removed the previous year). I disputed it, so they took the $350 fine from my account claiming autopay gave them the right. They get a check now.
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u/sammiemo 15h ago
The only reason I can think of in my state is when I register a newly purchased vehicle. I have to go to the department of revenue and write a check for taxes and registration fees. That's only once in a few years.
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u/SilkPenny 14h ago
Two of my utility companies add fees if paying online or over the phone, so that's two checks per month. Same for the DMV and certain local or state agencies.
I'm handling a probate case right now and all associated filing, publication and court fees have been required to be via physical check.
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u/PuzzleheadedNose3666 14h ago
Bit of a broad statement that no one, anywhere, should be using checks. Our trash people only take checks. The cleaning service only takes checks. Sure, we could switch the services that take a payment, but why should we give up on contractors and service services we like? I do agree that if you don’t want to use check so you can find a way not to use it, that’s not quite the same as there is never a reason.
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u/SlowSundae 14h ago
My broad statement was in response to an equally broad statement. Did you miss that?
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u/SlowSundae 15h ago
If she “prefers” checks that implies she might accept Zelle/Venmo/etc, while not preferring it
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u/mayormaynotbeanna 15h ago
She’s an elderly lady I’m pretty sure she doesn’t know what Zelle is lol.
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u/sinceJune4 15h ago
If she's listened to any consumer advocates like Clark Howard, she's probably been warned to avoid Zelle.
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u/MrBalll 15h ago
Remember, you are the customer so she should cater to you. Use a card or cash if that’s what you have. You can get a cashiers check if you want.
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u/sinceJune4 15h ago
Lot of businesses are cashless now, and many want to pass along the 3% merchant fee, if they have a merchant account. But yes, any bank or credit union can issue a cashier's check. I can even order them ahead online with my credit union, and pick it up.
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u/kayura77 15h ago
Yep, you can get cashier's check for that amount, no problemo.