Alright, let me tell you about the first time I had to write a check. It was for my kid’s school fundraiser — you know, the kind where they’re selling overpriced wrapping paper that’s thinner than tissue. I stood there with a pen in one hand and my checkbook in the other, sweating like I was defusing a bomb. What if I mess this up? I thought. Spoiler: I did. But hey, that’s how you learn, right?
So picture this: I scribbled “Twenny Dollars” in the amount line because, honestly, I wasn’t sure if “twenty” needed a ‘y’ or an ‘ie’. (Turns out, neither — just write the numbers, Karen.) The school secretary called me later, gently asking if I could… uh… “clarify” my payment. Mortifying. But guess what? Now I’m the go-to mom in our PTA group for check-writing advice. Life’s funny that way.
Here’s what I’ve nailed down after 4 years of writing checks for everything from rent (my landlord still refuses Venmo) to my niece’s Girl Scout cookies:
1. Date Line:
Don’t just slap down “3/4/24” like I did. Banks can be picky. Write it out: March 4, 2024. Pro tip? Use the full month name. My cousin once wrote “12/1” in June because she forgot to update her checkbook — her gym thought she’d time-traveled.
2. Payee Line:
This is where you write who gets the money. But here’s the kicker: If you’re paying “ABC Electric Co.”, don’t shorthand it to “ABC Electric”. I learned this when my check to “Verizon” (instead of “Verizon Wireless”) got sent back. Cue the late fee and a very patient customer service rep named Linda who’s heard it all.
3. Amount Box vs. Amount Line:
The box wants numbers: $125.75. The line wants words: One hundred twenty-five and 75/100. Oh, and draw a squiggly line after the cents to fill the space — stops sneaky folks from adding digits. My husband once left room, and our handyman (bless him) jokingly wrote “and a million” in pencil. We still laugh about it.
4. Memo Line:
This part’s like Twitter for checks — short and sweet. “June rent” or “#43B” works. I once wrote “For the love of coffee ☕” on a check to my local café. The barista circled it and framed it. Americana at its finest.
5. Signature:
Seems obvious, but under stress? I’ve signed checks “Mom” or even “N/A”. Yeah, don’t do that. Use the name your bank knows. My friend autographed one “Taylor Swift” as a joke — her bank called it “suspicious activity”.
Wait — what about security? Glad you asked. Always fill out the payee before signing. I learned this after my toddler “helped” me by doodling on a blank check. (Chase flagged it as “abstract art”, apparently.)
Real talk: Checks feel retro, like using a fax machine or buying CDs. But they’re still clutch for certain things — security deposits, formal gifts, or that stubborn aunt who thinks PayPal’s a scam. Just keep your checkbook somewhere safer than your junk drawer (lesson learned post-dog incident).
So next time you’re hovering over that check, remember: Even if you mix up “forty” and “fourty” (guilty), banks deal with worse daily. You’ve got this. And if all else fails? Bake cookies for your bank teller. Works every time. 🍪