Thursday, March 01, 2007
I don't like to think of myself as being in the "dark ages" when it comes to technology but there are things that either take me a while to accept and things that I haven't really fully accepted. For example, for the longest time, I resisted having a cell phone. My reasoning was that they were still not perfect: calls dropped, fuzzy connections, poor service. I eventually got one but only because Mike put me on his family plan, so I only pay a small fee. And, I barely use my cell phone because, even with all the improvements in cell phone technology, there are still issues: calls dropped, fuzzy connections, poor service. Hmmmmm.
Recently, a friend of mine poked fun at me for a habit I refuse to give up: I write paper checks. I can't bring myself around to paying my bills online. I have been told that it's much more secure but I still have issues doing it all online. I do like that I can write a paper check and send it in the mail. Plus, when I last ordered checks, I ordered so many that I refuse to just throw them away. I refuse to create more paper waste than I already do.
My friend told me that the most difficult thing about online checking is the initial set up. She said that afterwards, it really is effortless. This, of course, sent my mind into overdrive:
If I set up online checking, I will have to remember another set of login names and passwords. I would have to add a new set of login information to my currently immense collection of login information: work email, home email, junk email, dental benefits, medical benefits, online bank statements, 401k online, New York Times, blogging platform, and, of course, porn sites (Oh, hush. As if you didn't assume). As it is, I am already overwhelmed by the number of passwords I need to remember that I have to write them down. Which, of course, eliminates the whole security thing. My head is spinning.
In the end, I have decided not to sign up for online checking because, damn it, I refuse to memorize another set of login information. I'm just not that ready to move forward with that technology. It may well be that once I run out of paper checks, I will switch to online checking but that is in the distant future. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Later.
Recently, a friend of mine poked fun at me for a habit I refuse to give up: I write paper checks. I can't bring myself around to paying my bills online. I have been told that it's much more secure but I still have issues doing it all online. I do like that I can write a paper check and send it in the mail. Plus, when I last ordered checks, I ordered so many that I refuse to just throw them away. I refuse to create more paper waste than I already do.
My friend told me that the most difficult thing about online checking is the initial set up. She said that afterwards, it really is effortless. This, of course, sent my mind into overdrive:
If I set up online checking, I will have to remember another set of login names and passwords. I would have to add a new set of login information to my currently immense collection of login information: work email, home email, junk email, dental benefits, medical benefits, online bank statements, 401k online, New York Times, blogging platform, and, of course, porn sites (Oh, hush. As if you didn't assume). As it is, I am already overwhelmed by the number of passwords I need to remember that I have to write them down. Which, of course, eliminates the whole security thing. My head is spinning.
In the end, I have decided not to sign up for online checking because, damn it, I refuse to memorize another set of login information. I'm just not that ready to move forward with that technology. It may well be that once I run out of paper checks, I will switch to online checking but that is in the distant future. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Later.
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Tim
Cellphone calls and texting is so very expensive here in New Zealand. So expensive in fact that we have some of the highest charges for cellphone calls in the western world. Example for my phone is $1.39 per minute peak and now only 89c per minute off peak.
Paper cheques too (I think you in the USA spell them checks?!) are a thing of the past here. Account charges for cheque accounts have increased where intenet banking has remained free and EFTPOS has taken over here. (You pay at the counter with your ATM card by putting it in the machine at the counter and keying in your number on the pad).
Good on you though for sticking with paper cheques for so long!
Kev in NZ
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Cellphone calls and texting is so very expensive here in New Zealand. So expensive in fact that we have some of the highest charges for cellphone calls in the western world. Example for my phone is $1.39 per minute peak and now only 89c per minute off peak.
Paper cheques too (I think you in the USA spell them checks?!) are a thing of the past here. Account charges for cheque accounts have increased where intenet banking has remained free and EFTPOS has taken over here. (You pay at the counter with your ATM card by putting it in the machine at the counter and keying in your number on the pad).
Good on you though for sticking with paper cheques for so long!
Kev in NZ
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