How many times have you stopped at the ATM to grab some quick cash only to be held up by an extremely “less than courteous” individual who is completing all of their banking, all nine accounts, while you’re standing there patiently, waiting for your chance to take a measly $20 out of your account? Drive thru’s are the same way- as you sit idling your car (as record breaking fuel prices continue to rise) while the person in front of you takes their time, sifting through their wallet and/or glove compartment to find the ATM card attached to the account with more than $.58 in it?
Granted, not everyone is savvy with such mechanisms, so it may take some time for the process to come full circle, and understandably so. But, for the sanity of everyone involved in a transaction, it’s best if you teach your children the proper etiquette of ATM’s before they get their own account.
- Be Prepared. Much like the Boy Scouts, teaching your kids to be prepared and organized before their turn at the ATM is critical. I don’t mean that if they’re driving down the street, they should be taking their eyes off of the road to search through their wallet for their card. If they are in line in their car at the drive-thru, inside the bank at the ATM, or at the local convenience store and their slower-than-a-snail, dial-up ATM, have your card out and ready for use.
- Be Quick. If you have more than one transaction to complete at the automated teller machine, you may want to time yourself if there’s other folks waiting and consider stepping aside to let others go. The reason for this is that ATM’s were invented as a means to access quick cash or to get a quick balance on an account, not to make the world wait for you, or for you to show off to the world that you have a debit card.
- Exit, Stage Right. There is absolutely no need for you to file you receipt, card and cash neatly in your wallet before you leave the front of the ATM. You can move away from the machine before you read your receipt and balance your checkbook for the month.
- Breathing Room When in line behind someone at a free-standing ATM, allow a minimum of 5 feet between you and the person at the machine. Not only does this alleviate some of the nervousness for the current user, they will be able to complete their transaction much quicker if you’re not breathing down their neck.
Of course, the important most rule of etiquette to teach your child regarding the ATM is that the out-coming money is not printed by tiny elves inside, but in fact comes from a job where you work, get paid, and put it into the bank for you to access as needed. Taking special care to keep accurate records, paying your bills before you play, and saving at least 10% of your income for a “rainy day” will lead to a happy and prosperous financial future.
