Checking Chasm
Check your money here for easy spending.

Saving your money is important. But sometimes you need to access some of your money quickly — like Jeannie does for last-minute climbing adventures, Fred’s piano lessons, and sales at Sneaker Town. Fortunately, banks can help you manage your spending as well as your saving.

If you put money into a checking account, it won’t earn any interest. But, it’ll be easier for you to spend it without having to carry a lot of cash all the time. That’s because you can use checks or debit cards instead of cash to pay for items or pay your bills.

Checks are special notes from the bank that have your name and address on them, and that represent your money. When you use a check, you write the amount of money you need and the name of the person or company you’re paying, and then you sign your name at the bottom. The amount of the check is taken out of your account.

Checks are great for paying specific businesses or companies, but they’re not your only option. When Jeannie needs actual cash, she turns to debit cards. Let’s check out Debit Den to see how these cards work.