This is increasingly becoming the standard in ATMs at bank branches, and it is becoming more common in other locations. Look for notices on the screen or on the machine itself.  No-envelope ATMs usually have clearly-marked, separate slots for checks and cash. Insert your card, enter your PIN, and follow the prompts to make a deposit. The ATM will verify at some point whether you can make no-envelope deposits. You will not need a deposit slip for a no-envelope transaction. You may want to add up the total dollar amount of your check deposits beforehand, in order to compare to the total tabulated by the ATM. You will be able to go through deposited checks individually if there is a discrepancy. Many machines can read the checks regardless of orientation, but it can’t hurt to stack your checks neatly and facing in the same direction. You do not need to feed the checks individually at most newer machines. The maximum number of checks you can feed at once should be displayed on the screen or machine; one national bank chain states a maximum of 30 checks at once. You should be able to go through checks individually and make corrections if needed.  Many machines offer the option of printing an image of the front of your check(s) on your receipt. Use this option if you’d like an added layer of proof of deposit for your records. Rejected checks -- those with unreadable printing or handwriting, for instance -- should be returned to you at the end of your transaction. Contact the bank if this does not happen. One common maximum for a stack of cash is 50 bills.  Again, the machine should be able to read cash in any direction, but a neat stack can only speed the process. Unlike envelope deposits, where they can be deposited together, cash and checks will need to be deposited in separate transactions. Deposit one, indicate you’d like to make another transaction when prompted on the screen, then deposit the other. This will vary by financial institution.  One advantage of non-envelope cash deposits is that the money is immediately available in your account because it has been scanned and confirmed. Envelope cash deposits, on the other hand, need to be opened, counted, and entered. If you need to add funds to your account right away and don’t have access to a bank branch, a non-envelope cash deposit may be your best bet. Check deposits will still require time to clear after being posted; one national bank considers non-envelope check deposits made by 8 pm to be posted that business day, and it should clear on the second business day after (posted Monday, cleared Wednesday, for example).

Summary: Verify that the ATM accepts no-envelope deposits. Endorse and prepare your checks. Feed checks into the marked slot when prompted. Make sure that the total amount is correct and complete your transaction. Deposit cash into the appropriate slot according to the ATM’s limit. Find out when deposits will be credited to your account.


Java.com has a test program that will confirm your Java installation. You can run it here. The page will automatically detect which browser you are using. Internet Explorer will most likely prompt you with one or two security checks, either at the top of the browser or in a pop-up window. Confirm these in order to run the Java applet. If you have Java installed correctly, a green check mark will appear, along with the message “Your Java is working.” Your version will be listed in the gray box.

Summary: Run the Java applet. Allow the applet to run. Check the test results.


Say you need to tell them something important and tell them what you hope to get from them from the conversation.  There are a number of things that you might want:  If you just want them to listen and offer emotional support, let them know that. If you want their advice, let them know. If you need their financial support, e.g., to see a mental health professional, mention that. You need to let them know that you want to have a serious conversation in private. This means starting the conversation in a general kind of way that conveys that you have a problem you want to discuss without getting into the specifics just yet. Here are some examples of broad conversation starters:  "I have a problem that I need to tell you about. Can we go somewhere private to talk?" "I could really use your advice on an issue I'm having. Can we go for a walk?" "I really need your help with something private; I want to talk to you alone about it." Try to remember that they may not know certain things about you, or that they may see the world a bit differently than you do. As you have the conversation, try to keep their perspectives in mind to ensure that you are all on the same page. As you are explaining things, keep track of their faces. If either parent looks confused, ask them if anything you said is unclear. Make sure you tell your parents all the information that you have about your eating disorder. Do you suspect that you have an eating disorder but have never been diagnosed by a mental health professional? There are also many kinds of eating disorders that are treated differently and that can have different negative effects on your health. This is all information your parents should know. Be sure to describe if you have:  Anorexia nervosa, which involves an inadequate consumption of food leading to low body weight. Binge eating disorder, which involves recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food. Bulimia nervosa, which involves recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food followed by behaviors that are intended to reduce weight gain, such as vomiting. Eating disorder not otherwise specified (NOS). This may include, for example, night eating syndrome (eating excessively at night), purging disorder (purging without first binge eating), or atypical anorexia nervosa (in which weight is within the normal range). Once you have pulled your parents aside and disclosed to them that you have an eating disorder, allow them to ask you some questions. Answer as best as you can, and be honest with them.  If you don't know the answer to one of their questions, it's fine to say that you don't know. If you don't want to answer one of their questions, tell them this. However, keep in mind that you parents love you and want to help. If what they are asking is relevant to your eating disorder, think carefully about your decision to not answer. Once you have had the conversation with them, remind them what your goals are and what you need from your parents to accomplish your goals. This could be a stay in an eating disorder clinic or to get mental health counseling. If you aren't sure what your goals are, or if you just wanted to express your feelings to your parents, ask them for advice. It can't hurt, and most parents love to give their children advice. If you prepared reading materials for them before having the conversation, pass them out to your parents. Give them some time to read the materials. Before parting ways, however, setup another time to meet with them for after they have read up on your specific eating disorder. Make sure not to overwhelm them with too many materials or with material that is not relevant to your specific eating disorder. Sometimes the conversation could get emotionally rocky. You may feel that your parents aren't being as understanding as you'd hoped for, or that they don't believe you, or that they don't recognize that eating disorders are very real and serious medical disorders. Despite any of the scenarios, try to keep the conversation mature and adult-like, as anything besides that won't get you very far toward getting the help you need.  If you find your parents are not understanding you or that you are getting upset for whatever reason, consider trying to have the conversation again at a later time when you are not as upset. There is a chance that your parents will view your disorder as their fault. However, it is important to keep the conversation on track, either by them offering you the emotional support that you need, or by offering advice, or by getting you into treatment.
Summary: Tell them what you need. Start broad. Keep your parents' perspective in mind. Update them on what you know. Give them time to absorb and to ask basic questions. Tell them your plan of action. Give them reading materials. Avoid whining or arguing. Mention they are not to blame.