If you want to make a large purchase, such as buying a car or putting a down payment on a new home, you might be wondering about the best payment method to use. Carrying large sums of cash can be ...

You’re closing an important transaction, and the seller asks you to pay by certified check. Fine, you say — but what is a certified check, and why and when should you use one? A certified check is a ...

When you buy a big-ticket item like a car or make a large payment, such as a down payment on a house, you may be asked to pay with a certified check or a cashier’s check. These checks are less likely ...

Jeff Somers is a freelancer who has been writing about writing, books, personal finance, and home maintenance since 2012. When not writing, Jeff spends his free time fixing up his old house. He has ...