How do you balance your checkbook? (Full Version)

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.Pammy -> How do you balance your checkbook? (5/28/2008 9:11:56 AM)

Everybody seems to be using software for their accounts these days. Does anyone still balance their checkbooks like I do?

I don't use any program. I do it the old-fashioned way, going through my checkbook, checking off what's been cleared according to the statement, then subtracting what hasn't cleared from the bank's final total and make sure that figure is the final figure in my checkbook. (And if it's not, I go find the problem.)

This is the way I started ages ago, and I've never seen any reason to change. I even enjoy it. Really enjoy it, in fact. I'm a dinosaur, I guess.

I'd really like to hear if there's anyone else out there like me.



elastic -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (5/28/2008 10:16:27 AM)

as fanatical as i am about money, i am ashamed to say that i haven't balanced my checkbook in at least 10 years[&o]


i pretty much exclusively use a debit card, and every month when the statement comes i look at it and look for any charges that look out of the ordinary, to make sure that all charges were made by me.

i know that's terrible, and i always mean to be better, but i'm just not.



.Pammy -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (5/28/2008 10:28:55 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: elastic

as fanatical as i am about money, i am ashamed to say that i haven't balanced my checkbook in at least 10 years[&o]


i pretty much exclusively use a debit card, and every month when the statement comes i look at it and look for any charges that look out of the ordinary, to make sure that all charges were made by me.

i know that's terrible, and i always mean to be better, but i'm just not.

I suppose there's really nothing wrong with that, if that's what you want to do. But it would really bother me that, through the month, I wouldn't know where I stood. I need to know that. But that's just me.



Miss Giggles -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (5/28/2008 10:44:18 AM)

I use Quicken, and a combo of cash and debit card for the daily stuff. If i don't check it every day I'll spend too much.



2shaye -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (5/28/2008 1:06:47 PM)

I balance at least once a week online.



Galilee -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (5/28/2008 1:34:32 PM)

I do mine like the OP does. Except that I go on line each day (yes, each day) and highlight each thing that came back. Every 2 weeks or so, I will add up what I have written in but hasn't come back yet, and see if my balance is right or not.

I have never seen a need to buy any software, either.



karlie -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (5/28/2008 1:57:45 PM)

I do mine pretty much the old fashioned. Everything gets entered into my register and checked off as it clears, and the ending balanced checked. I balance it online once or twice a week. I really don't feel the need to use software for something I can do very easily on my own.

Our business does use Quicken though, but it's much more complicated than a personal checking account, and our CPA likes the printouts of that for business taxes.



brownmommy -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (5/28/2008 3:07:56 PM)

I use Quicken and compare it to our online banking and online credit card statement. I figure use whatever works for you!!



APZR -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (5/28/2008 3:41:04 PM)

For personal, I write so few checks (mostly use cash) that I balance by hand. For business, Quickbooks is the only way to go.



isaacsmom -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (5/28/2008 3:44:52 PM)

I used to balance my checkbook the old fashioned way, but since the statements only come out once per month, it was a pain to go back over everything. And if there was a mistake somewhere, I likely wouldn't find it until the next month.

Now, I get online every single day and look at my checking account (my bank has free online banking). I can see every single day what's cleared and see the daily ledger balance and make sure it matches my register balance. Much easier and more efficient for me. And if there is a mistake, I can catch it right away and take care of it and not worry about overdrafting.



.Pammy -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (5/28/2008 5:46:55 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: fullhandswith3

I use Quicken and compare it to our online banking and online credit card statement. I figure use whatever works for you!!

[sm=thumbsup.gif]



notmycity -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (5/28/2008 5:58:02 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: karlie

I do mine pretty much the old fashioned. Everything gets entered into my register and checked off as it clears, and the ending balanced checked....



Works for us too. :o)



LCannon -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (5/28/2008 6:11:28 PM)

A combination of Quicken, my brokerage/Money Market and my(one) credit card. I use my credit card as often as possible(I use my money market for my 'ministry checks' and mail them)and pay that account off, monthly.



GroupW -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (5/29/2008 1:27:58 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: elastic

as fanatical as i am about money, i am ashamed to say that i haven't balanced my checkbook in at least 10 years[&o]


i pretty much exclusively use a debit card, and every month when the statement comes i look at it and look for any charges that look out of the ordinary, to make sure that all charges were made by me.

i know that's terrible, and i always mean to be better, but i'm just not.


You're not alone. After 20 years of never finding a single mistake when I balanced, I took a look at how much time it took versus the cost of not doing it versus the value of my own time. With online banking, it's not hard to check the balance and see what your pending payments are and how that impacts your cash.

I decided it wasn't an effective use of my very limited personal time anymore.



.Pammy -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (5/29/2008 1:38:34 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: GroupW

quote:

ORIGINAL: elastic

as fanatical as i am about money, i am ashamed to say that i haven't balanced my checkbook in at least 10 years[&o]


i pretty much exclusively use a debit card, and every month when the statement comes i look at it and look for any charges that look out of the ordinary, to make sure that all charges were made by me.

i know that's terrible, and i always mean to be better, but i'm just not.


You're not alone. After 20 years of never finding a single mistake when I balanced, I took a look at how much time it took versus the cost of not doing it versus the value of my own time. With online banking, it's not hard to check the balance and see what your pending payments are and how that impacts your cash.

I decided it wasn't an effective use of my very limited personal time anymore.

Point taken. I happen to have the time and enjoy it to boot, but I get where you're coming from.



reach -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (5/29/2008 7:40:18 PM)

I check my checking account almost everyday until my checks clear, then it is every other day. But I pay things all the time, so I check my account a lot.



Szaftoo -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (5/30/2008 9:37:26 AM)

I also use Quicken. I input all expenses regularly from my debit card and checks and check online at least once a week. I balance my account when I get my monthly statement and it takes about five minutes.

OP, I bet being a "dinosaur" keeps your mind sharp.



.Pammy -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (5/30/2008 9:51:31 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Szaftoo

I also use Quicken. I input all expenses regularly from my debit card and checks and check online at least once a week. I balance my account when I get my monthly statement and it takes about five minutes.

OP, I bet being a "dinosaur" keeps your mind sharp.

[sm=thumbsup.gif]



lexie -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (5/30/2008 1:58:03 PM)

I keep a paper budget. All of our spending is done by debit card (the only cheque I write is for the rent) and our bills are paid online.

Every few days, I go online and check my account balance and then record all of the transactions into my paper budget (I write them in the appropriate category so I can keep track of where we spend our money).



JazTek -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (6/4/2008 11:49:25 AM)

I let my wife take care of it... [:D]



Grace-N-Mercy -> RE: How do you balance your checkbook? (6/7/2008 11:50:33 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: .Pammy

Everybody seems to be using software for their accounts these days. Does anyone still balance their checkbooks like I do?

I don't use any program. I do it the old-fashioned way, going through my checkbook, checking off what's been cleared according to the statement, then subtracting what hasn't cleared from the bank's final total and make sure that figure is the final figure in my checkbook. (And if it's not, I go find the problem.)

This is the way I started ages ago, and I've never seen any reason to change. I even enjoy it. Really enjoy it, in fact. I'm a dinosaur, I guess.

I'd really like to hear if there's anyone else out there like me.


I still use a checkbook register -- I tried Quicken and Money, but it just didn't work for me. Now, I do balance with the statement online about once a week instead of using the paper statements that are mailed.

Also, I still keep my old checkbook registers and duplicate checks... these go back to 2002... I was organizing them just this morning.

Additionally, I have a journal where I keep track of expenditures every month. I can keep track of gas prices and their fluctuations, electric bills (helps me know when to expect the spike in the Summer), and what was going on in a particular month, whether I had lost a job or had some unexpected expenses.



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