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In my opinion, the Internet is the best invention ever. Aside from the fact that I can research any topic, buy any item, and do practically everything online, I love the convenience that comes with paying my bills through the computer. And up until two weeks ago, I thought that everyone else took advantage of this provision, too. But after talking with a friend–a relatively young friend–I realized that not everyone is hip to the idea of managing their bank account and paying their bills online.

What’s a Check?

The whole conversation started when my friend ran out of checks and couldn’t pay a bill. I don’t get into other people’s business, so I didn’t ask any questions. But she told me that the check was necessary to pay a utility bill. That’s when I suggested she pay the bill online. Who wants to worry about stamps, envelopes, and writing a check? To be perfectly honest, I can’t remember the last time I wrote a check. In fact, it’s been such a long time that my checks still have my old address printed on them–and I’ve been in my new place for more than two years!

To make a long story short, my friend had never signed up for account management. She didn’t even manage her bank account online, which completely blew my mind. I realize that some older individuals don’t trust the Internet and would never enter their personal information into a server. But I figured younger adults would be more open-minded.

Two Minutes to Sign Up

Whether you want to manage your bank accounts online or pay your bills online, you can set up an account in minutes. I was introduced to online-account management seven years ago by a co-worker, and I’ve never looked back. The old method of checking my account balance was so ancient: I would have to call the customer-service number, listen to prompts, and if I had a problem, I’d have to wait several minutes to speak with a live person. It would take ten minutes just to check my account. And don’t even get me started on paying bills over the phone. Some creditors and utility services would charge a convenience fee up to $10–talk about a rip-off. But there’s no fee for submitting online payments. And with my bank account, every transaction is viewable online. I can even view and print checks that I’ve written and deposited.

Payments Aren’t Lost in the Mail

I’ve had payments get lost in the mail twice. One payment never arrived, and the second arrived two weeks after I mailed the check. Of course, I got hit with late fees in both instances. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t convince the creditors to remove the fees. I didn’t have a habit of mailing payments one or two days before the due date. But things happen, and sometimes we pay the price.

Not anymore. As long as I submit my online payment on the due date, I’m safe. It’s the best of both worlds–I’m able to save time and money. Who wouldn’t jump on this?

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