Hey there, my fellow Dollar Scholars!

Let me tell you a secret. Aside from my main gig as a 27-year-old writer for your favorite personal finance newsletter, I can also do pretty handy impersonations. Channels like Dave Ramsey, take cover!

Every week, I set forth on a noble quest to unravel the mysteries of the green. Answers to questions like “What happens if 401(k) isn’t my thing?” or “Am I part of the Fantastic 4 if I have 4 credit cards?” flutter in my brain, all day, every day. But I don’t keep the divine wisdom all to myself. Nay! I share them with you all, summarizing the bits that’ll keep your wallets heavy and minds lightweight. And oh boy, who wouldn’t love some charming dog photos on the side!

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This 27-year-old is stranger than fiction!

If there’s one constant in life, it’s that we all age. Some like vintage wine, others like Ryan Reynolds. His “Deadpool” character makes as much sense to me as a vegan enjoying barbecue, but hey, who am I to judge?

As I’m ripening into my late twenties, I like a plethora of unconventional things. You think tie-dye is a crime against humanity? I see it as a fashion statement. Crazy about luxury shoes? I’m wearing limited-edition sneakers covered in puppy prints. Reality TV your guilty pleasure? Try glass-blowing on Netflix! And don’t even get me started on the ridiculous Star Wars sequel memes…

In true character, I picked this outrageous ‘Ocean Beauty’ checkbook from my bank. My checks now flaunt vibrant coral, graceful sea turtles, playful dolphins, and even killer whales – imagine writing THAT on your bucket list! Sad part—I don’t get to show them off much, thanks to my trusty, albeit less glamorous debit card. But with checks as cool as these, shouldn’t I be on the lookout for more opportunities to use them?

Guess what, checks aren’t obsolete

To solve this burning mystery, I approached Sarah Grotta, Director of Debit and Alternative Products Advisory Service at the Mercator Advisory Group. She shared that while payment apps are gaining popularity faster than Instagram influencers, checks are holding their ground. In fact, good ol’ America wrote a whopping 14.5 billion checks in 2018 alone. Quite a few, huh?

Turns out, checks owe their survival to convenience, though not so much for the payer, but the recipient. So if your landscaper prefers checks, or your dog walker insists on them, don’t roll your eyes. It’s probably just how they roll.

Of course, my landlord is also stuck in the stone ages. But he argues it would be more hassle to change his entire setup. So much for progress, am I right?

Checks aren’t without merits though…

Jenny Johnson, Director at The Clearing House, pitches in. She points out that checks let you include documentation while shopping. It’s like a trusty paper trail when you forget where your money went. And before you know it, check writing could turn into your identity at the local Macy’s, Target, or Dollar Tree.

Excited to flaunt your newfound love for checks? Well, hold your horses. You don’t want to hold up the queue at the register, do you?

But the good comes bundled with bad…

Unfortunately, checks can be a slow burn. Remember, we’re living in the 21st century, not the 19th. The Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act might have sped up the process, but a few days wait is still a drag!

Then there’s the unsavory matter of fraud. Did you know nearly 50% of deposit account fraud losses in 2018 were due to check fraud? That amounted to a nerve-racking $1.3 billion. Want to avoid being part of the statistic?

Johnson suggests using permanent ink pens, avoiding date abbreviations, and securing your checks like a treasure. Also, waving a bill payment with your mailbox’s red flag up might not be the best idea! (Not unless you want to risk a paper cut or a fraud, for that matter.)

The verdict is…

To use or not to use, that’s the question. And the answer? It’s really up to you. If you love waving your ~Ocean Beauty~ checks as much as I do, go for it! Just remember to keep things secure. Just one more thing: don’t worry about the fancy check design messing with your bank transactions. It’s all the same to those heartless bank scanners.

So, ready to embark on a spending spree with your sea turtle-inspired checks?

Photo by Peter Ardito

P.S: Check out more from MONEY:

• Venmo, Zelle, or Cash App? What You Should Know About Mobile Payment Apps
• Are Chip Cards Really Keeping You Safe?
• The Best High-Yield Savings Accounts