Get to grips with cheques, standing orders, and direct debits.
Cheque book
If you are 18 (possibly younger if your bank manager agrees), you can get a cheque book.
Cheques can be used to pay by post or in store and save you carrying a lot of cash around. However cheques may be phased out in the next few years. Fewer and fewer businesses are accepting payment by cheques, so it's always best to check with the shop or business if they accept them first.
If you're paying by cheque always make sure there is enough in your account, otherwise the cheque may be rejected or "bounce" and you may be charged. Always make sure that you only accept cheques from people that you trust.
Standing order
This is an arrangement you set up to make an on-going payment from your account to someone else's account, e.g paying your rent. The amount you pay, and when, is controlled by you.
Direct debit
This is similar to a standing order, except the amount and date of the payment is organised by the company. It can be useful for paying your electricity, gas, and phone bills as the company can adjust how much to bill, dependent on how much you have used.
Companies sometimes offer incentives for paying this way, as you don’t have to get in touch with the bank every time the amount changes.
Direct debits can be a good regular way to pay off debt, by whittling away at it through an agreed direct debit repayment plan. But be sure that you will have the money to cover it, i.e. regular salary, or you may end up creating more problems.
If you are paid monthly then organise direct debits for about a week after you get paid - this way you won't be struggling to get money together when there's only a few quid left in your account.
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