[wirlwind]

Since we got a judgement against us about a month ago, we have not had any checking account, or debit cards, and I never thought I could live w/o the convenience. But it hasn't been bad at all, and I find that I am much more responsible using cash than writing checks or using plastic. My money is lasting better, and my paycheck isn't gone the minute that I get it. Any thing connected with a bank is the devil's tool. The biggest problem that we have had is getting checks cashed. I tried to open an account just to get checks cashed, and they said that they wouldn't be able to give me the money then that they would have to hold the check for 10 business days, and if I tried to cash future checks that if the amount wasn't in there of the check, they would have to hold the check. I hate the way they tell you what they will do with your money! I live in an area where we have a lot of hispanics, and many of them are illegal and so some of the grocery stores will cash checks, and there is also a truck that comes to the plant where I work that will cash them for a fee. Before I had direct deposit, so I never worried about having to cash them. But it seemed like I never had money either. I was always trying to play beat the bank. Hmmm.....