Does anybody else NOT balance their checkbook?

[Grendalynn]

I AGREE!! I am the "finacial agent" in our house and I was HORRIBLE about balancing my check book and not knowing what was going out and if it had cleared. Last year I started using Microsoft Money and now use Quicken - Its GREAT!! You can track your personal finances -add your projected income and expences that go in and come out of your bank account, and it will show your (for months in advance) what your balances can or wil be. You can watch your bank account grow or dip and know in the future when you/if you will be in the red. ((and when in the future you will have enought money to plan your trip to DISNEY )) It gives you reminders and tracks your expences. It saved MY LIFE, honeslty! And this all works best with the online banking servies at your financial institution. Which shows you what checks have cleared and when your deposits are added. You just have to be sure to do it faithfully, every day, every friday or whatever to be sure your on the right track. But coming from someone who is financially and mathematically challenged, ITS GREAT !!! It really helps out a family on a budget (who lives week to week, as most of us do) to get the most of your money! Smart spending.......Two thumbs up here!! No exaggeration!

 

[Debbie Jean]

My cousin is a bank VP and frequently tells us these types of stories. Someone will come in and say they just noticed an unauthorized transaction and it turns out it has occurred monthly for the past 2 years but they never bothered to check their statement. They expect the bank to correct it and get all upset when told too much time has passed.

I make as many payments online as I can... saves postage.
Last year I authorized a payment to Chase. Since I check my transactions and balance every few days online, I noticed quickly that the amount was deducted from my account twice. Got in touch with the bank and with Chase to correct the situation immediately. Chase prompty refunded 3 payments to my account... which again I noticed immediately. Long story... don't get me started on Chase ... but it took a few weeks to finally get straightened out. I imagine if I hadn't noticed it, a year down the line would have been too late.