5 Reasons Millennials Would Benefit From Receiving Paper Paychecks
Written by
Cindy Lamothe
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
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For many millennials, paper paychecks feel like a thing of the past. Today, receiving money through direct deposits is the norm. But revisiting the idea of receiving physical checks might not be such a bad thing.
In fact, there are a few compelling reasons millennials could benefit from a return to paper paychecks — especially when it comes to money habits, mindfulness and more. While millennials use money differently than older groups, per National Debt Relief, here are some reasons they might want to make the switch back to paper paychecks.
Also see how to make your paycheck work harder with these three moves.
You Introduce a Sense of Pause
It might sound old-fashioned, but there are real reasons some millennials could actually benefit from going back to paper paychecks.
“I’ve noticed something interesting about paper checks from my years handling payroll — they create this natural ‘pause button’ on spending that direct deposit completely erases,” said Andrew Lokenauth, money expert and owner of Fluent in Finance.
“In a world where everything is instant and automated, slowing the process down a little can actually create better habits around money,” said Andrew Gosselin, CPA, personal finance expert and senior contributor at SaveMyCent.
Having to physically pick up a paycheck, walk into a bank, and deposit or cash it introduces a sense of pause for millennials that just doesn’t happen when your salary lands silently in your account at midnight.
That pause, Gosselin said, can be the difference between spending out of habit and making a conscious choice.
You’re More Aware of the Value of That Money
When you handle a paper check, you’ll likely be more aware of the value of that money.
“There’s something about seeing the exact amount written out that makes it more real than numbers on a screen,” Gosselin explained.
You might even look at it and think twice before spending half of it on an impulse buy. Millennials who struggle with budgeting may find that just having to wait a day or two to access their earnings changes their mindset. The process can become more intentional, and that can really help with discipline.
There Are Mental and Emotional Benefits
There’s also a mental and emotional benefit that comes from doing things manually. According to Gosselin, physically cashing a check gives people a moment to feel the reward of their work.
That small act, as simple as it is, can boost the feeling of control over finances. It turns payday into a milestone rather than just another line in a digital timeline.
For millennials who often feel like their money disappears as quickly as it comes in, having to take those extra steps builds a stronger connection to what they earn and how they spend it.
Digital Money, While Convenient, Can Also Feel Invisible
The “invisibility” of digital money is part of what makes it so easy to overspend, according to Gosselin.
Paper checks slow that process down. They create a natural delay, which gives you a moment to think through what you really need or want.
It’s especially useful for millennials trying to stretch limited income, because even a day’s delay can give you time to prioritize bills or plan your week better.
You Can Closely Review the Pay Stubs
“Pay stubs are also more likely to be reviewed when they come attached to a physical paycheck,” Gosselin said.
When everything’s digital, it’s easy to ignore taxes, deductions or benefit contributions. But when you’re handed a sheet of paper that breaks down exactly what went where, it invites a second look.
That review, he explained, helps folks understand not just what they’re earning, but what’s being withheld and why. For millennials juggling healthcare costs, retirement planning and student loans, those details matter a lot more than it might seem at first glance.
“Going digital isn’t bad. But in some cases, going analog can bring awareness back into the process,” Gosselin explained.
Paper paychecks don’t just hand you money. They make you pause, look, plan and act with intention. And in a time when spending is often a tap away, that little bit of friction might be exactly what millennials need.
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