Deleted
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Oct 7, 2024 20:27:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2014 12:38:01 GMT
In the long ago days before on-line banking, I was fanatic about balancing my checkbook to the penny. Now? I'm lucky if I even look at the monthly statement. I just do a quick visual online - once in awhile - to make sure nothing looks blatantly suspicious. Then I look at the balance - "yup, there's still some money in there," and then I'm done. For all I know the bank is charging me a $5 monthly "idiot fee" to see if I notice. It's one of the many things that makes me feel irresponsible and not quite grown up. Just wondering if I'm alone in this shameful behavior.
ETA:
I just realized - I don't even keep a running balance any more. I suck.
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akathy
What's For Dinner?
Still peaing from Podunk!
Posts: 4,546
Location: North Dakota
Jun 25, 2014 22:56:55 GMT
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Post by akathy on Aug 3, 2014 12:41:20 GMT
I check my balance online and compare it to my running balance a couple times a week. As long as they're within around $5 of each other I'm ok with that.
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Post by fkawitchypea on Aug 3, 2014 12:43:44 GMT
Never. I check my online balance once a day or so and review the charges to be sure nothing crazy has happened but that's it.
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Post by Scrapbrat on Aug 3, 2014 12:43:49 GMT
I balance my checkbook monthly. To the penny.
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Post by lilacgal on Aug 3, 2014 12:44:25 GMT
I check my online balance to make sure I've got money. When I spend money, it usually shows up as pending on there rather quickly. I only write checks during the school year for DD's lunch. Aside from checking my pending transactions, I don't do much.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 20:27:06 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2014 12:45:34 GMT
I balance my checkbook twice a month. (paydays...when I pay bills) Generally, we don't keep a lot of extra money in the checking account, so we need to always have a reasonably accurate running total so we know when/if we need to transfer money from another account.
I also keep the checkbook balanced for the Booster account I write checks out of.
A simple trick I do for both accounts is that once it's balanced, I highlight a line to indicate to me that that's the last time it was balanced to the penny. IF I ever have issues with not balancing, I know I won't have to go back very far...so I know where any mistake is and know where I have to focus. There's nothing like the thought of having to go back 6 months to look for a math mistake that doesn't make me break out into a sweat.
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,402
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Aug 3, 2014 12:46:03 GMT
I do.
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Post by anxiousmom on Aug 3, 2014 12:52:11 GMT
Not enough money these days to worry about it. I know how much I deposit, don't spend more than that. I randomly check to make sure that there isn't a charge that I didn't authorize, but beyond that? Not much more.
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Post by misadventurous on Aug 3, 2014 12:52:41 GMT
Back in the days before debit cards and electronic payments, yes, every month to the penny. Now that there are virtually no book-bank differences? Never. I just scan for suspicious activity.
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Post by Baseballmom23 on Aug 3, 2014 12:53:53 GMT
Yep
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Post by JoP on Aug 3, 2014 12:56:00 GMT
Yes I do
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Post by Fidget on Aug 3, 2014 12:57:27 GMT
Yes - Always! If I'm off a few cents I don't try to find it, I just make an adjusting entry to force it to balance. I've found mistakes where I have neglected to enter a transaction or DH has neglected to tell me he debited something. I can't imagine not balancing my check book, or not keeping a register!
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YooHoot
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,432
Jun 26, 2014 3:11:50 GMT
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Post by YooHoot on Aug 3, 2014 12:57:53 GMT
Nope. I just glance to make sure deposits are done on the day they are due (paychecks) and during the week a glance every couple days to make sure things look okay.
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Post by samcro on Aug 3, 2014 12:59:34 GMT
I used to delight in balancing mine to the penny every month when the statement came in the mail. Years ago of course! Now I sit down about every two months and update it all, including writing in all the debit card entries. I'm terrible.
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grinningcat
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,663
Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
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Post by grinningcat on Aug 3, 2014 13:01:27 GMT
Nope. Balancing a cheque book is a complete waste of time. Watching balances online is more effective and less work. Why go through the hassle and work of balancing myself when it's done for me?
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Post by gardengoddess on Aug 3, 2014 13:02:31 GMT
Yes, I do, but I'm rethinking it.
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Post by bearmom on Aug 3, 2014 13:12:00 GMT
Dh does, to the penny. Every month. Not only our checking account, but also our credit card statement.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 20:27:06 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2014 13:12:18 GMT
I used to but I can't remember the last time I wrote a cheque.They are very rarely used over here anymore. I do check my account online fairly regularly which gives me a cleared balance and and uncleared balance( amounts pending). I usually have a pretty good idea of how much should be in there anyhow.
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Post by anxiousmom on Aug 3, 2014 13:16:25 GMT
I used to but I can't remember the last time I wrote a cheque.They are very rarely used over here anymore. I do check my account online fairly regularly which gives me a cleared balance and and uncleared balance( amounts pending). I usually have a pretty good idea of how much should be in there anyhow. I haven't written a check in a million years...until last week. Apparently the DMV prefers them as they charge a $5.95 fee to use a credit or debit card. So, cheap ass me wrote them a check. Good thing I had a check on me. I had folded a single blank check up in my wallet a couple of years ago as a just in case kind of thing...
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Nink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,955
Location: North Idaho
Jul 1, 2014 23:30:44 GMT
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Post by Nink on Aug 3, 2014 13:19:32 GMT
Yes. I'm meticulous about keeping our register up to date. DH doesn't always tell me every transaction so I go online daily and use a yellow highlighter to mark purchases in the register that have already cleared bank. Every so often when I actually balance it to the bank statement, I highlight that in orange so I know how far back I need to go if there is a discrepancy. DH has been out of work for over a year. We live (very stressfully I might add) from paycheck to paycheck from my job. I can't afford any surprises.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Aug 3, 2014 13:21:21 GMT
When I did balance mine in the register, I'd write a B with a circle around it next to the last post in the balancing. Now I monitor on-line. I rarely write an actual check anymore. When I do, I still jot it in the register just in case there's any dispute about it. But that's all I use the paper register for now. Now, ask me about my paper daytimer vs an on-line calendar... I cling to that physical daytimer like a life-line. You'll have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands.
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Post by Ramona on Aug 3, 2014 13:21:26 GMT
I used to balance with the statement once a month, as I'm always using the debit card and not recording it. Hubby and I have joined our checking accounts, and while I'm still the writer, I will feel better if the books are balanced. He's a paper, not electronic kind of guy!
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stittsygirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,600
Location: In the leaves and rain.
Jun 25, 2014 19:57:33 GMT
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Post by stittsygirl on Aug 3, 2014 13:25:18 GMT
Yes, online and with my iPhone checkbook app, to the penny, a couple of times a week. ETA: like most everyone else, I rarely write an actual check these days, but debits and automatic payments are still deductions I monitor on a regular basis, so I can budget out everything else for my month accordingly. I've gotten in trouble before trying to keep track in my head, and I want to watch out for fraud and mistakes. I have control issues .
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Post by jcm28 on Aug 3, 2014 13:30:54 GMT
I reconcile my checkbook every two weeks when I pay bills. I keep the "probable" balance in my head.
Janet
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back to *pea*ality
Pearl Clutcher
Not my circus, not my monkeys ~refugee pea #59
Posts: 3,149
Jun 25, 2014 19:51:11 GMT
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Post by back to *pea*ality on Aug 3, 2014 13:34:09 GMT
I am an accountant, so yeah, I reconcile. DH and I have a joint checking account and sometimes he forgets to give me a debit card purchase slip so this gets things all caught up and doesn't take more than 5 minutes of my time in Quicken.
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newlywoods03
Pearl Clutcher
Blessed Beyond Measure
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Jun 26, 2014 3:09:09 GMT
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Post by newlywoods03 on Aug 3, 2014 13:35:28 GMT
Yes
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 20:27:06 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2014 13:38:25 GMT
I don't balance my checkbook, but I use an online program called Mint, which pulls data for all my financial accounts. I watch this site religiously i.e. check it twice a day. I've found 3 different accounts with fraudulent charges posted to them over the last couple of years. Fortunately, I was able to bring this to my banks' attention immediately and have the problems resolved.
I can't imagine not keeping an eye on our money, especially in this age, when hacking is so rampant. OTOH, my DH doesn't have the same level of concern when it comes to our accounts. He's just happy to know there's money in there. but I'm a tad obsessive about it.
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Post by ihaveonly1l on Aug 3, 2014 13:40:39 GMT
I pay more attention to my American Express account because I charge everything I can to that card. My husband has a card he mostly uses. I look at our online banking and pretty much the only thing that it shows are weekly payment to those two cards and any Bill Pay stuff that comes directly out (cable/garbage service/etc). Whenever I see a check line, I have to click on it to see what it is. Since there's always a picture, I can tell what it is right away.
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Post by Sharon on Aug 3, 2014 13:43:42 GMT
I balanced mine every week using online banking. I never bother with the monthly statement now.
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