Yes, You Still Need Them: Reasons Why Young Adults Should Have Paper Checks

In a world of tapping your phone to pay for coffee and splitting a dinner bill with a quick Venmo transfer, the idea of a paper check can feel like a relic from a bygone era. For many young adults who have grown up in a digital-first world, you might have never even held one. It’s easy to assume that with all the payment apps at our fingertips, the paper check is completely obsolete.

But here’s a crucial piece of “adulting” advice: the paper check is not dead, not by a long shot. There are still many important, high-stakes situations where a digital payment simply won’t cut it. This is why having a set of paper checks on hand is a crucial, if often overlooked, part of a smart financial toolkit. It’s about being prepared for those key moments where an old-school piece of paper is the only, and often the best, way to handle a transaction.

If you’ve been putting it off, here are the key reasons why you should have a checkbook ready to go.

The Big One: Rent, Security Deposits, and Real Estate

This is the most common and important reason. While some large, corporate apartment complexes might have online payment portals, a huge number of landlords—especially smaller, independent ones—still prefer, or even require, that you pay your rent and your initial security deposit with a paper check.

A check provides a clear, physical, and traceable record of payment for both you and your landlord, which is essential for such a significant transaction. When you’re putting down a security deposit and the first month’s rent, which can be thousands of dollars, a paper check is a trusted and universally accepted method. The same is true for a down payment on a home or other real estate transactions.

Dealing with Government Agencies

Need to renew your car registration at the DMV? Applying for a passport? Paying a local municipal fee? Many government agencies, from the local to the federal level, can be notoriously slow to adopt new payment technologies. In many of these situations, a paper check is still the preferred, and sometimes the only, method of payment they will accept besides cash. Showing up prepared with a check can save you a huge amount of time and the frustration of having to make a second trip.

Paying for Small Businesses and Local Services

Many small, local businesses and independent contractors—think of your plumber, your electrician, or your landscaping crew—often prefer to be paid by check. Why? Because it allows them to avoid the 2-3% processing fee that credit card companies charge for every transaction.

For a small business, those fees can add up to a significant amount of lost revenue over a year. By offering to pay with a check, you are helping that small business keep more of its hard-earned money. Sometimes, a business might even offer a small discount for paying with cash or a check.

A Secure Way to Send Money in the Mail

Sending cash in the mail is never a good idea. It’s untraceable and can be easily lost or stolen with no recourse. If you need to send a gift to a relative or pay a bill through the mail, a check is a far more secure option.

Checks have multiple security features. If a check is lost or stolen, you can contact your bank to issue a “stop payment,” which prevents it from being cashed. You simply can’t do that with cash.

A Surprisingly Good Budgeting Tool

In a world of frictionless, one-tap payments, the physical act of writing a check can be a powerful budgeting tool. It forces you to pause and be more intentional with your spending. Actually writing out the dollar amount in words and numbers for a large purchase makes the transaction feel more real and significant than just tapping your phone.

Furthermore, a checkbook with a register provides a simple, tangible, and chronological record of your major expenses. For young adults learning how to manage their money, this hands-on approach can be a great way to stay on top of their spending.

While you might not use one every day, a paper check is still an essential tool. Having a checkbook is a sign of a prepared, financially savvy adult who is ready to handle any transaction that comes their way.