Buying cheap personal checks from a commercial printer is the same as ordering from a bank. Parties to regular checks generally include a maker or drawer of the check, the depositor writing and endorsing a check; a drawee, the financial institution where the check can be presented for payment; and a payee, the entity to whom the maker issues the check.
When you write a check you are considered a drawer of the check. The drawer draws a check draft. When you cut a check it means you are drawing a check.
What makes it all work smoothly is that there is also at least one endorsee which would typically be the financial institution servicing the payee's account. In some circumstances may be a third party to whom the payee owes or wishes to give money.
Typically, when you get a check you act as the payee. As a payee, you deposit it at your bank or you can take it to the branch that it was drawn on.
With a little investigation, you should be able to find a bank with free checking accounts. It's a good way to save money in this tight economy but it is important to make sure your accounts balance well an are not overdrawn.
Some people have problems waiting for checks to clear and find themselves having the expense of over draft fees. You should perhaps think about getting associated with a bank that has overdraft protection. It might save you a lot in the long run.
The IRS urges federal taxpayers to choose direct deposit. This way you don't have to worry if your check is lost or stolen and the IRS doesn't have to worry about undelivered checks. You can deposit directly into your checking or savings account.
When income tax season rolls around, you can have your refund sent to your IRA or investment accounts or to your bank or checking account. Be wary of any kind of instant refund since it could carry high-interest rate and fees since it is a loan.