Cheap checks can be used at any time and for any purpose. However, they are almost never used as business checks. They are usually made of a lesser grade paper and they are small. These checks are usually used as personal checks by people who have either purchased them as fund raisers or someone very frugal. They are good to use if you have many checks to send out at one time because they would then be more cost effective.
Cheap checks that have been purchased as fund raisers will give you a choice of a scene that is imprinted faintly in the center of the check. The choice is usually a floral, environmental or animal graphic. The choice of colors is standard.