A checking account, how to live without one?

I don't know how people function without one.  There's been times that we didn't have one, like when we were moving and what-knot but for the most part, but man it was a headache.  If you don't have a checking account, what do you do?  How do you pay bills for one thing?  I made a reservation for a condo for the holidays and we had to have a credit card for the security deposit.  And, since we don't do credit cards, we used the debit card that goes with our checking account. 

I know you can pay a lot of bills online too but that too requires a checking account.  Honestly, it simply amazes me how people can make it without one...simply amazing.