Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and giveaway on behalf of Savings.com and Checks in the Mail. However all opinions written below are 100% my own. I ate a bug once in the 1st grade. I also had a huge crush on Christine Taylor when she was in Hey, Dude. How much more do I have to share here?
Actually, let me share one more thing. I used to hate checks. Like, really, I hated them. It wasn't for the typical reasons though. Sure, I thought they were antiquated and I couldn't understand why anybody in their right mind would use, let alone prefer them.
It probably didn't help that my typical interactions with them always involved giving away money too. Making a car payment, insurance, probably a few repairs in there as well. Bills, which apparently come every month. Students loans! HAHA! I paid how much for what exactly again?! I still don't know.
No, the reason I grew to hate checks was because they were forced on me. Some bills could only be paid by check, because that makes sense. Others weren't as macabre, but they charged a few dollars to pay by card.
As a broke 20 year old, I didn't just pinch pennies, I named them and there was no way I could justify giving away Frank, Yolanda, George, Stephanie, Little P, Maryanne, Sir Elton of Dover, Little P Jr., and Winkin' Lincoln as punishment for rejecting what I considered dinosaur technology. “Fine,” I meekly mumbled to myself as I paid $30 I didn't have for a box of checks I didn't want, “I'll buy these, but I'm drawing the line at faxing in my payment!”
Flash forward a decade.
I don't know how it happened, but I developed a habit of saving. I squirreled money away, got a steady job (or whatever the heck this is!), and even *gulp* drank cheap liquor. When my lease ended in August, I kicked around the idea of getting my first apartment alone. I'd always had some sort of roommate situation, be it friends, family, or strangers. (There've been some characters. Remind me to tell you about Phil one day.) It was never a huge deal, but hey, I like walking around naked after a shower or drinking milk from the carton as much as the next guy. Unfortunately I learned the hard way both are activities others frown upon.
The lease I signed last month only had one signature when I submitted it for approval. My new apartment isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination. Drop a ball in my living room and I know the exact spot it'll end up. The guy next door loves blaring the television at volumes most high orbit spy satellites pick up. Oh and windows are apparently optional!
But it's all mine 🙂 It's my first “home” that I get to make completely my own, something that excites me, and that is something I never saw coming in a million years.
Landlords are probably one of the biggest holdouts in the “Vive la Checks!” camp. However when I pulled my checkbook out last month while signing the lease, I wasn't filled with hate or annoyance or even apathy. There was happiness and pride and excitement and holy crap it felt stupendous!!!
I'd never had that experience while holding a check. I'm thrilled to say those emotions carried over to the first of this month as well. I guess you can say I don't hate checks anymore.
Discount Code
I've never personally used Checks in the Mail and I'm not in the market for more at the moment, but I've bookmarked them and will use them next year when I run out. They've got good reviews online and an A+ rating with the BBB to boot. If you happen to need checks now, you can't go wrong with their current offer. New customers get 60% off plus free shipping via code GET60. Sounds pretty rad to me.
Awesome Giveaway Details
Most of us get monthly Valpaks stuffed with coupons, which is already great enough. However Checks in the Mail got in touch with them recently and offered to place $100 checks in Valpaks across the country. So make sure to open your Valpak ASAP the next time it arrives
As if that wasn't enough, Checks in the Mail has teamed up with a few bloggers to give away $100 to 10 of our lucky readers. You can enter via the widget below and the fine print can be found beneath it.
I hope all 10 winners are Hiffers. Okay, I'll settle for 9. So go enter, good luck, and just for fun leave a comment saying what you'd spend your winnings on! Just a warning: if you say Macallan, we might become best friends.
I have 5 kids and i can use the money
I have a two month old and i would use this money for diapers..
I would use it on the baby on the way! First timer Cant wait!!!!
As a poor college student, I would use the cash for all the necessities – food, gas, etc. (:
As is our new household rule, 10% will go into savings, and the rest will be spent on gifts for my family, or a lovely holiday dinner!
I will use the holiday cash to purchase presents for my friends/family!
I would use my cash when I am studying abroad in Chile next summer!
I would use my cash for xmas presents.
I will give my holiday cash to my 2 grown daughters to help them pay some of their bills.
I would spend my holiday cash on my nephews. I wasn’t around much when they were really little (I was away at school). I can’t wait to be there for them now!
It would go toward buying food for my first Christmas Dinner that I am cooking myself! I would love to go all out and get really fancy, and this would help alot!
Buy flowers in my husband’s memory and gifts for my great-grandchildren.
(Macallan) : )
I will use my holiday cash score to enjoy a great meal and drinks with my honey!
I will use my check to buy more checks, it’s madness!
To pay some on bills since I’ve been on medical leave the past 5 months.
I would use the Holiday $100 Cash for groceries to have a nice holiday meal with all the family.
I would spend my holiday cash to buy Christmas gifts to make everyone’s holidays a little brighter.
I would get my marriage license
I will probably buy my friends gifts. Because I am a bit derpy like that
I will probably use it for my kids or to buy something nice for myself.
I would put it towards my wedding!
I would use it to get my family presents, because this year has been tight money wise.
I would split it w/ my mother!
I would put it in my travel fund.
I would use the money to pay for a massage for my mother who has severe back pain.
Christmas presents for the kids and dogs.
To buy christmas presents for my son
Christmas presents for the kids
have fun with kids
Would use it to start buying christmas presents for the most important people in my family. That would be my grand-babies!!!
I would put it towards my student loans
fix my truck
I would buy Christmas gifts for everyone!!
I’d probably spend most of the money on Christmas presents, but put aside some to get myself some home decor stuff I’ve been wanting.
I will buy some Christmas gifts with the $ if I won.
I plan to go shopping for some winter clothes and save the rest for emergencies.
Taking my 9-year old boy to see the Harlem Globetrotters!
I plan to buy some small gifts for my son’s kindergarden class. I think it would be so nice to drop them off the night before they leave school for the holidays. I would like to keep it anonymous and just hear all the joy my son and his class get when they come to school and find gifts on their desk and around the classroom!
buying presents that I know some people need
Christmas dinner in Savannah with my mom and sister. This is our first Christmas trip in a long time.
Christmas gifts for grandkids!
Dinner w friends and family!
x-mas gifts!!
Help with groceries,maybe a lil something for my daughter to open
Macallan, of course.
I would buy some furniture.I don’t have any.So my fingers are crossed
I’ll treat my friends & family to Starbucks!
A nice gift for my husband!
Ill use the holiday cash to buy all of my wonderful friends great gifts because they deserve them!!!
I will use it for my cat colony expenses.
I would love to use this money for online Christmas shopping!
I have a niece who has been living with type 1 diabetes since the age of 3. Shes been in the hospital 10 times in the past year alone. Its been a difficult year. Her birthday is coming up in January she turns 15 and we are trying to have a quincenera and make it special for her, she deserves it. She is such a good kid with the biggest heart always putting everyone else first but she is physically and emotionally exhausted. It would be nice to make it special and hopefully renew her spirits.
I just recently extended my family. I found my biological father, half-brother, and other family members. This Christmas is going to be harder financially, and I would use it to buy presents.
I would probably use the money on my nephews and niece!!!
I think I’ll use the money to start buying some Christmas presents.
I would use the money to get my nephews up here to see us.
I would spend the money on my grand kids. It would help brighten their holidays.
Buy my 2yr old some wooden toys only available online.
Probably on Christmas gifts =)
I am going to spend each penny on my Kiddos Christmas. If I win this will be there Christmas. Sounds bad I know but some people just don’t have money right now.
definitely going to buy new running shoes!
I would put it towards a (just because)! For example! No rhyme or reason go out to lunch an mabe pay for the table next to us…something random ..I’m a strong believer in karma… Get what ya give! Give an will receive.. It’s that simple..good luck to all ..enjoy your day!!!!
If I win, the dollars will go to family time. I will have to “check out” Checks in the Mail the next time I need to order checks. Thanks for the chance.
Probably on bills….. Boo!
I need a pair of shoes that will make it through a whole wet winter here in Seattle!
Thanks so much, and this is a very nice thing you are doing. My kids both joined the navy, my 20 year old is home for now, and will be leaving soon for more training, and my youngest leaves in June right out of high school, to start his training. I would love to have enough $ to get them something special , because could probably be the last Christmas we will be together for quite some time
My 11yr old son had friends over for his birthday. That night they were snap chatting with a few friends on my sons iPod. After everyone left the next day, apparently so did the iPod. My son is so upset. Of course he is upset over the iPod, but he is hurt to know one of his friends would do this more. So, I would use the 100 dollars towards a new iPod for him.(he knew how special the iPod was, so he took very good care of it, never even taking it to school)
I’d spend it fulfilling a wish on our local Angel Tree, I’d choose an elderly person ‘Angel’ since they just don’t get many fun things during the holidays’ sometimes. I’d also choose an animal ‘angel’ from our shelter’s tree!
Donation to Philippines & gifts for family 🙂
Samsung Note 3
Presents of course!
gas for my van!
Would use it for something nice for myself I give everyone everything but myself
If I won this, I would spend it on a nice Christmas gift for my wife since she has been working so hard to help me support our family. She would definitely deserve it!
I would totally love to win this! I would spend this on a couple of nice gifts for my parents who have helped my husband and I so much this past year and we haven’t had the funds to thank them in a nice way.
I would love to be able to buy a gift for my husband who has supported me through our entire marriage of 22 years. .he is a hard working man and has always taken care of his family it is time to do something for him without him actually having to pay for it
I would use the money to change the fuel filter on my car.
I would love to buy some special gifts for my special family:-)
printing copies of my newly-finished thesis!
Buy a turkey with the dressings
buy family gifts!!!
buy gifts for my family.
Girl’s night out!
I would buy something nice for my hubby.
I would spend it on my kids just got them back from cps and want them to have the best Christmas ever.. #fingerscrossed
I would be able to buy more coats for the kids at school who come to school in the winter with only sweaters.
I would use the money to buy my fiance a pair of shoes he’s been eyeing!
I will donate it to Toys for Tots
New tires for my jeep
Add to the Christmas budget! Yay!
Christmas gifts for the kids!
Moving with my fiancé to our new home for the first time!
Spend it on my baby grand girl!
OR, put it towards the purchase of our new home so we can be closer to her and her mommy and daddy!
I’d get my husband an awesome Christmas gift!
Put it in Savings… or blow it on my costume for Comic-Con…. yeah… we’ll go with that one.
Family gifts.
i have 3 kiddos and would love to have extra money to fill their stockings!!
Gifts for my sons.
Probably save it. ha.
Groceries so that I can entertain family and friends this holiday season in style. Any leftover will go to son and wife to buy groceries or formula for the baby. 🙂
Holiday gifts
Holiday Gifts
Holiday gifts
Present for me!!!
Use it to buy holiday gifts
I’d use it on a nice pair of boots.
I would buy some great food for the Christmas party
I would spend it celebrating my new life with family & friends
to buy presents of course
Buy gifts for Christmas.
I’d buy presents for my family and my dog. 🙂
I would use it to buy my books for next semester.
Hope i win
i would spend it on Victoria Secret. A treat for both me and my man!
I’d buy a tablet for my girlfriend!
I drive 3 hrs each way to bring my so home from college for Thanksgiving and Christmas so I’d use it to pay for gas.
I would spend it on my kids!
I will be buying my husband a nice new wallet.
I would buy christmas presents for my family!
I would use $100 to buy books for next semester, if I’m lucky, I might get a half of one with the check 😉
I’d save my check! I want to be able to use it for Christmas presents but that has to be for Black Friday shopping! 😉
I would pay my bills first, then use any leftover cash on Christmas presents.
family and co-workers
I would spend it on my kids.
I would spend it on my family who do so much for me.
I would buy ten pounds of Milk Bones, nine Whimsies chewies, eight pounds of bird seed, seven Pupperonis, six Scooby snacks, five bully sticks, four chicken jerkies, three marro-bones, two snausages, and a partridge in a pear tree. 🙂
I’d put it towards converting all of my parents old VHS family tapes into DVD’s.
Toys for orphans
I’d use it for gas money to see my friends this xmas
I’d put it toward christmas gifts.
I’ll use it to bump up the Christmas budget for my little girl!
Birthday Gift for my Sister
college fees/books
Holiday gifts for friends and family.
Birthday gifts
Something nice for myself to celebrate my graduation from Community College on Dec 16th, at the tender age of 55. GO ME!!!
for family
my future trip to Ireland
Presents for the Grandchildren
I would put it towards cataract surgery I need.
A night out!
Christmas for my kids
on christmas presents for my puppy! (currently she has a small portion of the holiday gift budget:) )
I would take my husband out for a special dinner and donate to my church’s food pantry as there are many people in need due to businesses closing in our area
Pay down my debt from last year 🙂
Thank you for this opportunity as any winnings would go toward Christmas dinner for my family.
Thanks for the giveaway!ill buy Christmas gifts.
Buy some gifts for my brand new baby nephew!
pay down my bills
help family
replace my cracked car windshield
I’m going to be putting it towards a plane ticket so I can see my long-distance boyfriend who’s in the military!
Honestly, I would save it up for my graduate school fund :/ no fun for me
I would use it for Christmas gifts.
I will buy real christmas gifts for all my friends.
I would buy myself some new shoes!
Get my mom a better Christmas gift, lol.
a tank of gas
Christmas presents. 🙂
Pizza and Movie Rentals
I’ll spend it on alcohol. Just being honest.
Spend it on me because never buy anything, always spend money on my kids and grandson.
gifts for family and friends
College tuition payment!
buy gifts!
Give money to needy families.
Good luck everyone
Putting it in the bank for use with my next term’s tuition bill.
I would buy my duaghters friends new coats for winter!
Large vet orhtodontic bill for my cat whose front tooth was broken off playing with a string.
I’m a college student but I won’t plea about how I’m so poor and all. I’m currently very content with what I have and I have no complaints. As for my holiday cash, I would love to get my parents something bigger this year. I feel like the usual card and 10 dollar gift card at some place just isn’t cutting it anymore considering what we have gone through the past year.
Any holiday cash I end up with will go straight into the savings account meant to move out of this hole of a rental and into a real house!
Airfare to take toddler to see grandparents.
I just had a baby, so there’s a ton of stuff I’d like to get for her!
Student loans ><
Presents for my sister!
gift for others
I would use it to buy a radio for my car because the long drives are boring
I would be quite grateful to use the money towards paying a bill and the rest to a charity I’ve been wanting to support. Thanks for the opportunity!
Holiday Gifts!
hmm… i’d use the money to buy a one-year anniversary gift for my boyfriend 🙂
groceries
I’d use the holiday money towards a trip I’m taking my daughters on….thanks for the awesome giveaways!!
buy gifts
New tire! The back right one is so bare it chirps when I turn..
Christmas gifts for my kids!
I would use it for baking supplies – which are used for my X-mas presents. Orange cranberry loaf anyone?
Oban for my hubby as he already has MacCallan and Glenfidditch. Maybe spring for a Speyside? 🙂 I’m more of a gin lover myself.
I’m in!
I need it to buy Christmas presents.
Would use either for Christmas money and/or to pay a bill or two. Super exciting, right?
Take my family to dinner!
Gifts for granddaughter,daughter, & hubby
Gifts for my kids
I would spend it on gifts for my kids.
I would buy my family their Christmas gifts and put what was left into savings (poor college kid here!)
If I were to win this holiday cash, I would buy a llama (and my llama I mean holiday gifts for my family.)
could always use a few extra bucks for grandkids christmas
for my kids
I will spend my holiday money buying gifts for my brothers who without me will probably not receive many gifts.
I would take my family out for a nice dinner.
I’d probably want to spend it all on myself! But discipline would kick in and I’d use it for holiday gifts instead. 😉
Christmas dinner and drinks at my place for once. No more bad cooking at mom’s!
christmas presents
Would so use this for my babies for x mas
Presents for my family!
Buy some toys for my son!
gifts for Christmas
I want to buy a goat.
Vet bills for my new puppy!!
I’d buy colorful Christmas presents for my grandma who has Dementia & Alzheimer’s.
Go christmas shopping for my family!
Christmas shopping!
on my hubby’s christmas present!
I would use it to catch up on my car payment!
Help for people who need it.
I would use it to pay a bill.
It would go towards a Continuing Education class for my Occupational Therapy license. 🙂
Things needed around the house- just moved out for the first time!
It would go toward the heating bill and diapers! Sorry I’m not more exciting.
I will consider this as my gift so that I can buy gifts for my little ones.
Christmas Shopping
Weekend trip with my husband.
I’d buy something fun and frivolous for my daughter instead of just stuff she needs.
I would use it towards the three Christmas dinners we are having this year!
Do something fun with my 8-year-old!
get a computer and desk for my son
Gifts for my little one! 🙂
Holiday shopping
I would use the extra money to get a certain gift for my hubby for Christmas that I wouldn’t be able to get him normally.
Actually be able to buy hubby a gift this year using my own money!
I would buy some christmas gifts for family and friends
The under-wire in my bra has poked out and is stabbing me!!! I would buy new bras and thank you for the “support”!!!
Would make a Happy Holiday for me!
Buy much needed clothes for my 3 kids!
I have a new granddaughter who likes dolls.
Munchies to share
Gifts!!!
$100 for wine for the holidays!!
I’ll use extra holiday cash to have a nice dinner out with my hubby.
Bills & presents!
That $100 would surely go toward stuff for my new baby girl that is due next month 🙂
Christmas Presents WOO HOO!
Bills 🙁
bills 🙂
i will pay for my toga for med school grad!
I will pay a bill!
books for school!
bills, bills, bills
Bills unfortunately!
my books for college
I would spend it on Christmas gifts!
Sadly, just bills!
I would buy my mom the super-expensive bamboo sheets that are so comfy! She deserves it!
I’ll go surprise my little brother who has cancer in Denver and I’ll buy him the hat he wants from the college I go to.
I need MONEY!!!
to buy christmas presents for my family!
It’ll be a blessing if I win, I really need this!
Christmas gifts.
I will use it towards rent & utilities. My income has dropped significantly since I had brain surgery a year ago.
I’d save it up to visit my parents overseas!
Probably to buy Christmas presents.
Food!
I would be spending it on Christmas presents for my 2 year old daughter.
I’d probably buy something for my husband!
Help me book a DreamTrip!
clothes!
I’m using it on ME, me, me…did i say ME?
I would pay a bill. Uber exciting
I would splurge and buy something fun for myself.
Spending money for the holidays!
I will use it to pay my cellphone bill.
I will be spending most of my holiday cash on a plane ticket home to visit my parents
moving!
Christmas for my daughter!
Books!
B&B getaway with the hubby.
Textbooks for college!
Presents for my new grandson!
I will spend it on my kids
I do believe I would use the money towards helping me move. Moving sucks.
I will spend my holiday cash on my 8yo son and 2yo daughter. A scooter for her and a two-wheeler for him!
Black Friday shopping!
I will spend it on my family!
I would spend it on something for my boyfriend
I will use it to buy food for our holiday dinner.
Christmas presents for my sisters!
My husband would use it to buy gifts for our nieces and nephews for the holidays.
My mom.
100 boxes of candy canes.
Textbooks and groceries!
I would spend it on a gift for my sweetie!!
Gifts for the family!
Probably on Christmas presents 🙂
Would certainly help with groceries this month!
Used to take my wife out on the town!
My son.