Frugal Tip...... Do not wait 15....

**SewCrafty** · 04-10-2003, 02:46 PM

months to balance your checkbook!!!

I just did this as I was off with the bank for $386.42. So I figured I better get it done. Little did I know how long it had been since I last did this. I found lots of bank statements I hadn't even opened yet!!

All the way back to last January!!

It has only taken me 5 1/2 hours to finish. Now I'm only off by $2.86. I can live with that.

I have never done this before (waited so long to balance it) usually I do it every month. Just got lazy I guess. From now on, it is a monthy chore again. At least it won't take 5 1/2 hours!!

**lucy979** · 04-10-2003, 02:51 PM

That is a good tip! I get all my stuff online so that makes it a little bit easier!

**Darlene** · 04-10-2003, 03:08 PM

My first thought was-

Then-

(poor you sitting there for hours as the cats listen to you swearing)

Now that your done and have learned your lesson-

**captclearance** · 04-10-2003, 03:12 PM

dh does it the day the statement arrives .........
He works on it till it balances to the penny !
It's usually in good shape........
Good advice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**pita1213** · 04-10-2003, 07:20 PM

i have about 6 months worth of bank statements i haven't opened yet either. BUT i do go online and balance the check book every few days. it only takes 5 minutes if i check at least once a week.

**Karla** · 04-10-2003, 08:51 PM

Wow..no wonder it took you 5 1/2 hrs. I check mine online all the time...its easier for me that way.

**PennyPinchinPam** · 04-10-2003, 09:00 PM

I balance mine by checking my account online at least once a week, sometimes more. I'm anal about the checkbook. It has to balance to the penny all the time or I'm not happy. I worked in a bank for 6 years and I think that's why. LOL!!

**Michelle** · 04-10-2003, 09:58 PM

*cough* I never balance mine

My dh got me into that bad habit when I met him, and I've never been able to go back

--and he's an accountant!

(please don't throw anything at me

)

**Mom23boys** · 04-10-2003, 10:26 PM

Yikes! That is scary. I don't know how you do it Diana and Michelle. I would be scared that I would be writing checks with no money in the bank.

I check mine weekly online too. It is so easy to do.

**bamamomto4** · 04-10-2003, 10:32 PM

I'm with Michelle...I never do mine anymore.I prob haven't in at least a year

I do put all the unopened statements in a safe place..my desk drawer LOL if I ever need them,I know exactly where they are lol
I write down ALL checks,deposits,and atm withdrawls but I never check them with the statement....Hopefully I won't bounce anything

**CAGmomof2** · 04-11-2003, 06:47 AM

Thank you for this very helpful tip on balancing checkbooks at least once a month....

**blueknitter** · 04-13-2003, 05:04 PM

I check our balance online usually three times each week. We're on such a tight budget that I refuse to bounce any checks and give the bank money that it doesn't need.

**sixfreds** · 04-13-2003, 05:11 PM

My husband does the checkbook and let me tell you I don't think he ever balanced it.... But somehow it works for him..

Eileen

**homesteadmamma** · 04-13-2003, 05:45 PM

I balance mine every month, the day the statement comes in. I don't do online banking.

One thing for those who know their check books to the penny. The banks make errors!!!! And sometimes huge ones. I know from experience and it took me almost 5 months to get a problem straightened out. They had lost one of my checks, I knew it, the place where I cashed knew it, but the bank refused to admit it.

Know where they found it, between 2 desks. I hounded them until they fixed it.

They've also overcharged me a couple of times on charges they shouldn't have.

**SewCrafty** · 04-14-2003, 09:25 AM

I know what you mean CJ. A bank we used to use, once mixed our account up with a businesses and deducted over $12,000 from our account for the businesses payroll!!!!

Of course this was 3 weeks before Christmas and they froze our account so they could fix it. My dh was having his paycheck automatically deposited, good thing I got mine at work or we wouldn't have had any money to live on, pay bills or Christmas shop that year. As soon as they fixed the mistake we closed our accounts there, moved our mortgage etc.. We never even got an apology!!

Ladies, I do write everything down in my check register as it happens. I think I just put a wrong amount on the calculator when I was writing out bills, and I never double check.

Don't worry, it won't happen again!