Reassurance

• Writing a post-dated check is useful to reassure someone that she'll receive payment in the future. If you don't currently have the funds to make a payment but will when payday comes around, it's easier for someone to cash a post-dated check she already has instead of waiting for you to give her a check later.
  
  

Due Dates

• A post-dated check also ensures that you pay your bill on time. If you have a bill due every month on the 15th, you can send your check whenever you want if you post-date it for the 15th. The receiver will have your check but can't cash it until the 15th of the month, and you don't receive a late fee or penalty for forgetting to send in the payment.
  
  

Risks

• A post-dated check poses risks, especially with the increased use of automatic systems to process payments. The computer will likely not recognize that the day has not yet come for the check to be cashed and will process it anyway. This can result in financial stresses and insufficient fund fees. Make the receiver aware that the check is post-dated and have enough trust with him to know he won't cash it until the date listed.
  
  

Receiving a Post-Dated Check

• If you receive a post-dated check, you accept the responsibilities that come with it. The payer trusts that you will hold the check until she has the funds. If you decide to cash it before the date, you run the risk of getting charged fees due to negative funds and causing undue hardship on the other party, who will also be charged unnecessary fees.