Do you balance your checkbook? Update in OP

[Papa Deuce]

Poll coming, but the reason I ask is that I just saw a TV commercial that gave the percentage of people who do balance their checkbook. It was a surprise to me. I'm gonna let the poll run a while then I'll post the percentage of people who do balance their checkbook.

EDIT: if it is a family checkbook, I am guessing that the results mean whether it gets balanced at all, not necessarily whether you are the one to do it.

OK.... the commercial for a bank says 85% of all personal checkbooks are not balanced...... I am in that 85%.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Quicken keeps it balanced.

 

[doxdogy]

I answered no because DH balances our checkbook.

 

[Nancy]

No...and my DH would probably flip out if he knew that. I don't even have a check entry book, I just look on-line every day.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I answered no because DH balances our checkbook.

Well, what is really meant, I'm sure is whether the family checkbook gets balanced, or your personal checkbook gets balanced, not who actually does it.

 

[hugsquared]

No...and my DH would probably flip out if he knew that. I don't even have a check entry book, I just look on-line every day.

Me too. I actually write very few paper checks, usually use the debit card and I have online banking and check daily. I'm bad, I know, but I'm also lazy.

 

[wdwmom2]

Yep!!!!! I bounced a check one time and that was the end of that!!!!!! It gets balanced down to the penny.

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

Yes, I want to know when and where I wrote what. I want to know how long it takes from the day I write the check until it clears, and most of all, I make sure I keep up with check card purchases. This way I can catch the bank when they err..and they do too. How can you hold the bank accountable if you don't keep records?

 

[Kimberly]

Debit!

 

[flminivanmama]

i write it and subtract or add immediately. I like to keep a running tab. I also keep a little notebook of expenditures so I write what I spent there (it's divided into categories). I do this the minute I spend a dime whether by debit card OR check.



I round up though (or down for deposits) so I have tons more money than is written in my register

 

[L107ANGEL]

 

[aprilgail2]

I haven't balanced my checkbook in 20 years! I don't even write down any checks I write either LOL...I write very few, just for school stuff, girl scout stuff or Doctors, every thing else is paid online but I haven't bounced a check in my life so I guess my sytem is just fine as it is...

 

[Kimberly]

Even though I do use my debit card, I constantly check my balance. I have only once bounced a check, and I've learned my lesson since.

 

[Nancy]

Yes, I want to know when and where I wrote what. I want to know how long it takes from the day I write the check until it clears, and most of all, I make sure I keep up with check card purchases. This way I can catch the bank when they err..and they do too. How can you hold the bank accountable if you don't keep records?

In almost 30 years of having a bank account I've never dealt with a bank error for my checking or savings accounts. I do the majority of my banking on-line, usually it shows up the next day. I hardly write any checks at all....I do use the debit/credit card and that shows up almost immediately. (it gets ubtracted from your available balance). I don't have a problem with bouncing checks, but I do check every day so I know exactly what as cleared and what hasn't every morning by 8am.

 

[janette]

Quicken keeps it balanced.

 

[mcnuss]

Yep!!!!! I bounced a check one time and that was the end of that!!!!!! It gets balanced down to the penny.

Two words for you: overdraft protection. Never lose another night's sleep.

In almost 30 years of having a bank account I've never dealt with a bank error for my checking or savings accounts. I do the majority of my banking on-line, usually it shows up the next day. I hardly write any checks at all....I do use the debit/credit card and that shows up almost immediately. (it gets ubtracted from your available balance). I don't have a problem with bouncing checks, but I do check every day so I know exactly what as cleared and what hasn't every morning by 8am.

ITA!! And I think that this method MUCH improves the odds of your catching an error or fraud than waiting for a statement.

I write down the checks we write (about 4/month at this point: to the church and the dry cleaner who does not take cards) and everything else is done on-line. I've even gotten it to the point where any payment of a set amount every month gets done automatically. I probably only have 5-6 transactions/month that are not automatic.

 

[pattyT]

Trick Question -
we have 4 checking accounts!

1 for the general contacting business -that is in Quickbooks and balanced

1 for the apartment houses - which I want to put into quickbooks but haven;t been able to get it to balance in 3 years since I took it over from DH

1 for the household stuff which I don't balance
1 for my 'slush fund' which I do not balance
(I will make sure bolth accounts have too much $ - or I will use one for everything for a while then the other - bad I know!)

 

[BARBARAAPPLE]

I write down every check and balance it out every time I write a check

 

[bsnyder]

I have duplicate checks, so I don't need to enter them in a register. I check my accounts online almost every day, and check off as each check and debit card transaction clears for the correct amount, and then also make sure the deposit amounts are correct. Other than that, I don't bother to balance.

The bank may make an error in the amount of an item, or by "losing" a deposit, or duplicating a debit, but as long as the debits and credits are all there, and for the correct amounts, the computer will do the math for me.

 

[swankybeth]

We have 3 different accounts and each is balanced to the penny. God forbid something is off, because I'll sit there and figure it out until it's perfect!