Had to Balance a Friend's Checkbook Today

**AmyBoz** · 04-13-2006, 08:50 PM

Seriously, this checkbook had me in twitches.

She called for my help because she had no idea how much she had in her checking account. She and her husband have separate accounts (this is why I am TOTALLY against separate accounts...joint accounts keep everyone...well, accountable!) She had gone to the bank and had them give her a printout of her recent transactions and tried to update it herself, but couldn't quite get it right.

Turns out, she doesn't really record everything in her register. She does, at least, write down the check number and the amount, but not who they are all to, and she does forget every now and then, and there were lines drawn from here to there, and deposits missed, and she never does the math as she goes through, so she had an overdrawn charge, etc.

I piled her and my kids in the van and we drove to her bank, and I made her sign up for online banking, and she left her checkbook with me. Tomorrow, I'll go online and balance everything out with her register. She then wants to come to me once a month and have me make sure she's on track. So, I'll do that for her.

It was seriously a total MESS. It was scary!

**AmyMCGS** · 04-13-2006, 09:11 PM

You're a good friend to be helping her out with a complicated mess like that. It's a wonder she hasn't been overdrawn or had other problems.

**SHOPGIRL** · 04-13-2006, 09:20 PM

I rarely write paper checks, and when I did, it was such a pain writing everything down. Online banking has been great for me. I hope it works for her. My bank automatically subtracts checks from my account as soon as they are sent so it makes it really easy.

**Katybird** · 04-13-2006, 10:32 PM

You are so sweet to tackle that task for your friend. I am sure you can get her on the road to organization.

**starsapphire** · 04-13-2006, 10:44 PM

Online banking is a godsend for me. After not having a checking account for years I finally got one last year, and online banking is the only way I will ever keep one. Not having to write paper checks and being able to see my balance online instantly is the best thing since sliced bread. You are a good friend to help her out.

**Emerald_Mommy** · 04-13-2006, 11:27 PM

She's very lucky to have you for a friend!

You just telling the story made me twitch a bit. I'd go crazy if my checkbook were anything like that.

**Kelly0411** · 04-13-2006, 11:39 PM

You are a good friend. I cant tell you how many check books I have had to balance for other people! I have worked in the "banking" world for over 22 years. In my own opinion, while you are helping her, shes not learning to take care of this herself. I have found that making that person sit down with me and go through it step by step was the only way to teach them how to balance and be responsible with their checking account.

**MandiDawn** · 04-14-2006, 08:33 AM

My old checking account was like that (not quite that bad). I had no idea how much money I had in there. I never bounced checks since I would leave a "cushion" but I had no idea what that cushion actually was. I finally closed that account and opened a new one just so I could get on track. I am proud to say that my checkbook balances to the penny each and every month (and has for 5 years). Oh, and when I closed down my old checking account, it turns out I had $600 in there. That was money that I had no idea I had.