How Do You Balance Your Checkbook?

[staceyy]

How do you manage to balance your checkbook keeping track of checks, debit purchases and various service fees without making costly mistakes?

[Jayne]

I right everything in as soon as I make a transaction and check my balances daily

[Dedlered]

Likewise, I also round up, so there is always a cushion

[AmyBoz]

We only use our checking account for check writing, so there are only deposits and checks to record. I use exact amounts. We don't use debit cards around here.

[dndylfe]

We use our debit card frequently and I keep every receipt. Every couple of days I record it in the checkbook register and balance it; more frequently if we're cutting it close. Atleast once a week, sometimes more frequently, I check the account online to reconcile the checkbook and make sure that everything is in order and no unexpected charges (ie, dh charged something and forgot to tell me) have occurred.

Checks are recorded as I write them out. Right after we get paid, I deduct every bill from the account so that there's no overspending.

Managing the account online instead of waiting for a monthly statement has been the absolute number one reason we've gotten our spending under control. We used to have debit card privelages revoked from the bank because we kept overcharging, but we haven't done that in years now. Plus, we now have a bank credit card that acts as an overdraft protection, although we've very rarely used it.

[alabamagirl]

Here's my secret - just call the automated telephone number and get your balance every day. It works like a charm. No surprises ever.

[sanderson76]

No I never balance my checkbook. I use microsoft money so every morning I pull off the internet my checking account which will show me my balance and then I categorize everything on it.

[Jerseygirl]

Simple checking here, no debit, no atm no nuthin'!
I write a check, I record a check, I always round up when writing checks, down when depositing, so I don't have to deal with change and by doing that I have collected over $200 in the past 4 years, I keep this $ "buried" in the account (not recorded in my book) to cover fees and be a cushion. My checking is also linked to our other accounts for overdraft protection.

[Jenna]

I keep a notebook of deposits and withdrawals. I check off any item that has cleared the bank, and monitor my account on-line.

I keep a close eye on the account, and balance it to the penny.

[brainyblonde]

I have been using Quicken for years. I think my very first computer had a demo that I tried and liked. I keep the program updated with the freebie deals around tax time.

I have all of our accounts loaded in the program, and those than can be linked for automatic updating are set up. I schedule recurring payments so they show up on a list every time I open the program. You can create budgets using the data you've entered. I credit the program for helping me rid my family of over $10K in credit card debt. After I got over the shock of what we owed, coming up with a plan, and watching the $ shrink was motivating.

It is so easy to use. I can reconcile an account in minutes. I still write a fair amount of checks as the bank I use charges a fee for online bill paying.

I also keep a cushion of $200 that shows up as an uncleared check every month.