How often do you balance your checkbook?

[hrh_disney_queen]

And do you like to do it? I balance mine a couple of times a month. I really enjoy crunching numbers, so I am one of those that actually likes to do it. I find that if I do it that often I am rarely out of balance, and I can find the problem easier.

When my DH handled the checking account, he NEVER balanced it. We had a lot more money in it back then, so overdraft wasn't a problem, but when I took it over it was impossible to balance.

 

[Papa Deuce]

My personal one? Never.

The family one, my wife does once a month.

 

[PatsMom]

Every so often I "reset" my balance to what the bank says it should be when I know I have no payments or checks outstanding. I must confess that I don't write down my ATM withdrawals, automatic payments, direct deposits, etc. I know about how much should be there and just verify it at the ATM every so often.

Back when things were leaner and I was a poor enlisted person in the Air Force I balanced my checkbook to the penny every month. But that is because it was common for me to have a balance of under $100 after the bills were paid!

 

[stsomewhere]

I do once a month when the statement comes. There are always a few debit purchases Dh doesn't tell me about. I never bounce a check becasue I round up to fives or tens. After a few months I have a nice little stash of extra money for vacation.

 

[ols386]

Monthly. When I receive my statement.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Every so often I "reset" my balance to what the bank says it should be when I know I have no payments or checks outstanding. I must confess that I don't write down my ATM withdrawals, automatic payments, direct deposits, etc. I know about how much should be there and just verify it at the ATM every so often.

Back when things were leaner and I was a poor enlisted person in the Air Force I balanced my checkbook to the penny every month. But that is because it was common for me to have a balance of under $100 after the bills were paid!

I pretty much do this too...when the statement comes in...or right after my direct deposit, I may look at it...but in general...I just go with the flow

 

[Kathi OD]

I pay the bills online every Friday or Saturday and balance right before making the payments. Only takes a few minutes and it's easier to find mistakes than when I did it monthly.

 

[nhpooh]

I pay the bills online every Friday or Saturday and balance right before making the payments. Only takes a few minutes and it's easier to find mistakes than when I did it monthly.

This is what DH does, I don't do it.

 

[Free4Life11]

Daily. I have an Excel spreadsheet and check my online banking balance each morning and update the prior days transactions that have posted. I like to know exactly how much $$ I have down to the penny!

 

[ilovejack02]

Never.

When first married yrs ago, we were did it all the time. Wasnt uncommon for us to have VERY LITTLE left over after bills paid.

 

[mikehn]

Monthly. When I receive my statement.

Same here. If managing your finances with something like Microsoft Money, reconciling all your various accounts is effortless.

 

[dancingdisneygirl]

I pay the bills online every Friday or Saturday and balance right before making the payments. Only takes a few minutes and it's easier to find mistakes than when I did it monthly.

That's pretty much what I do also. I balance it every friday when I get paid and pay my bills. I sometimes balance it daily, I like to know how much money I don't have

 

[JoanGirardi]

We still do it old school, once a month when the statement comes, with the checkbook and a calculator.

 

[nancys]

I think the last time was 2001.

I always make a New Year's resolution to do better, but it never happens. Bad, I know.

 

[kimmar067]

....I sometimes balance it daily, I like to know how much money I don't have

 

[shellybaxter]

I never actually go through a process to "balance" my checkbook. I do check my balance on all accounts online - daily. I keep in mind all checks I've written. I kind of "balance" in my head. I love that bank info is available online

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I never actually go through a process to "balance" my checkbook. I do check my balance on all accounts online - daily. I keep in mind all checks I've written. I kind of "balance" in my head. I love that bank info is available online

I also use the online statement information. I check all my accounts on a weekly basis. I keep an excel document of how much I have in each checking and savings account, and subtract from that the amounts I owe on each credit card to get a total.

 

[robinb]

Never. I used to balance my checkbook when I was single and poorer but I have not balanced a checkbook in years.

 

[georgina]

I'm online looking at what checks have cleared every other day. Most of my transactions are electronic, so it is very easy to check my balance and see if it looks right.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I track my checking account in Quicken. I don't write anything in my check register. I keep my Quicken register balanced all the time, so I guess my answer would be once a week or more. We write so few checks that it is easy. Almost everything goes on our credit cards.