I Am a Financial Genius

Allow me to share my financial wisdom with you. Warren Buffett, take note.

First, some history (what, you thought I would actually get to the point right away? Ha!). My financial education first began with a book my father gave me when I was about 16 called "The Millionaire Next Door." This is a terrible book (sorry, Dad). It's written in this kind of folksy style about some barber (who is, of course, a millionaire next door, but no one knows it) who dispenses financial advice along with haircuts. I did manage to read several wretchedly written chapters, but quit at the life insurance and living wills chapter. Those didn't seem to so much apply, since I was 16, for God's sake.

I managed to learn nothing more until 8 years later, when I went to work as a proofreader for a company that publishes financial newsletters, among other things. I read a lot of financial advice there, most of which I paid not much attention to because the newsletters were written for and distributed by banks and other financial institutions that want your money. Hi, biased much?

BUT, I have a point, I swear to God. One of the pieces of information that did manage to take up residence in my otherwise sieve-like brain is that you should not order checks from your bank. I had no idea there were other options. So today, I realized I'm almost out of checks, and ding! A bell went off and my brain un-filed that one useful tidbit of information I retained from 3 years of cubicle hell. So just to be thorough about it, I checked with my bank first, then I Googled "order cheap checks." I chose a company that had verifiable security, since you have to give them all your account information, obviously. In case you're wondering, it was Carousel Checks. But I won't give them a rousing endorsement until I see if any money is siphoned from my account in the near future.

The point! Yes! The point is this, finally. Totals for 150 standard checks, including shipping: KeyBank--$30. Carousel Checks--$6.

I think we've all learned a valuable lesson here. Don't say I never did anything for you.