Balancing the checkbook

On-line banking ....the only way to go! I pay everything I can online and,especially like it for bills that will hit you with a fee for being 12 seconds overdue. Now that cc companies are looking for any instance to up your interest or cut your limit online is the best way to pay. We write only a few checks everymonth and I can check my balance everyday if I want so I know what is paid.....or not....cell phone bill said I didn't pay in Feb but there it is taken directly out of my account so they had to find/admit they goofed. No more lost in the mail/found under the car seat and never got mailed...well,you know all the ways things get misplaced! DEE who does all the bills/banking for Army son and have to keep him updated....who knew you had time in Iraq to order from Ebay?

I gave up doing it.

Now I use Microsoft Money to balance it for me. Saves quite a few headaches.

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If the grass looks greener it is probably over the septic tank. - troy n sarah tx

Our existance here is soley for the expoitation of CMG

Hi Jenn,
If you use an ATM machine remember to record the fees. It's easy to carry out your transaction and forget that some machines charge for each transaction, and they do add up. Might be part of your discrepancy.

SBJ

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The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring. ~Bern Williams

Another MS Money user here. I've been using software for years and could not live without it.

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Lisa
www.jandlentertainment.us

It was always a pain for me to remember every time to go back and write down every transaction in that little account book. Sooooo, I changed style of checkbooks and went back to the 'old-fashioned" kind where each check has a stub. I find it much more convient (even though the check book is a bit longer)

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Moving to that big black hole in the night satellite photo. (also the hole in cell phone coverage )

Me too! I have used "Top Stub" checks for, let's see now, about 37 years! Up until recently I just scotch-taped the checks back in place when they came back. Any checks that were not back were easy to see--there's a stub with no check on it!

Now my bank has gone to NOT sending the checks back. It's a pain in the neck.

For all these years, I could balance my checkbook in about 10 minutes max. Now I have to go through line by line. I hate it.

Progress! Not if you ask me!

I keep track of every penny I spend, and I use my debit card at least 12 times a month so I get the 4.25% interest rate on my checking account - I check the on-line banking site at least a few times a week to see what's come in or been paid out, make sure it's up to date in my checkbook. I like knowing how much money I have and that I have enough to cover everything. Gotta balance to the penny, too.

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My posts and words remain my exclusive property and may not be used without my express written permission and proper credit given for authorship.

Sometimes what messes my checkbook balance up is I will mistakenly use a credit card and then record that amount in my checkbook as if it was a purchase with my checking account debit card.

For my once a month checkbook balancing task I have created an Excel spreadsheet and let that do the math so I avoid errors.

I highly recommend Microsoft Money, too. I use it for my residential rental property account and for our personal accounts. It's easy to use, logical, and plays a pretty tune when you are done reconciling your bank statement.

I must, unfortunately, use Quick Books for hubby's corporate bookkeeping. I hate it with a passion. It's overly detailed, not user friendly, and really takes an accountant to understand the hidden things it does.

I balance checkbooks and reconcile four statements every month. It's a bit stressful, but I am SO proud when I'm done. I am learning to focus on the positive parts of bookkeeping instead of the anxiety producing aspects.

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Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus

Ok, that's three recommendations now! Guess maybe I'll try it! I used to be a "reconcile to the penny" person, now I'm happy if I can get it within $100. I try to reconcile online about every other week so I'm not missing too many auto payments or ATM withdrawls that DH makes without telling me but I'd like to do a MUCH better job of keeping tabs!