Subtle—and sometimes not-so-subtle payment method pressures

Joined the local neighborhood YMCA. The application includes signing-up for monthly auto debit. I’m not a huge fan of auto debit for our household (you do what’s best for you), and so I inquired about paying via check. This option is available, but we’d have to pay 1/3 of the annual membership for the next three months until the annual membership is paid in full. Oftimes I feel penalized for using cash and check in our automated society (have you seen the Visa commercials socially outcasting the folks in line who use cash?). Nonetheless, I prefer to hold out like a homesteader squatting on soveign domain.