When was the last time you balanced a check book?

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

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Location
The Sticks, Northeast PA.
On an old TV show, someone mentioned balancing a checkbook. I thought -who balances a checkbook anymore? I go to my bank's website, select the business, and click in the sum. My bank does all the rest. I remember getting the canceled checks in the mail and spending an evening "balancing" my check book. Somehow, I never knew exactly how much money I had in the account. And those monthly bank statements never agreed with my figures. 🤔
 

Technically not for decades.
However, I use a monthly worksheet that I custom made to my expected expenses.
The worksheet hangs on a clipboard next to my computer.
And I use a "notes" program on my computer to deduct each purchase amount as I go along.
That and my online banking keep me aware of current checking balance down to the penny at all times.
The banking app is pretty good for current balance too ... except for something that may not have cleared yet.
Therefore, the notes program. Some have found easier ways but this has worked for me for years.
 
Several times a week.
Years ago I created myself a spreadsheet patterned after the old Microsoft Money. I enter transactions, hide the cleared ones and then balance with my present account balance. Just like a checkbook but much easier! I use online banking of course.
I also have budget columns set up and more stuff like that. Have used this for years and would be lost without it!
We mostly use a debit card now but always make sure to get receipts so that I can enter them!
 

When was the last time you balanced a check book?​


Haven’t used a chequebook in over 30 years. Even when I did have one it hardly got used. They are not really a thing in the UK. They seem to be something from a century ago, and are too open to theft and fraud.

If I put my mind to it, as well as anyone else could these days, I could create a cheque on a PC; and print one off on a good quality printer. Does anyone want to accept a check from me as payment? Or even accept one from anyone else.

Can't even remember the last time I saw anyone using a chequebook, or understand the point of them. They seem so antiquated. As a car with a starting handle might be. I wonder, does anyone in the UK even accept a cheque?
 
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I rarely write checks. but I balance the acc't whenever I've paid
bills online....thats why I was so freaked out over losing my bank access this past week...turns out the new bank that took over the old one, changed the sign in process without telling me !!!
Also use a spreadsheet in Excel to keep track of expenses....
 
I keep a check register
I like hard copy to thumb thru when I have the need

Fill it with all transactions
No paper checks
Just auto pays and debit card
I compare with my bank history whenever I feel the need
 
It has probably been a couple decades since I balanced my checkbook (I don't even bother to write check amounts down in the check register).

Most of my expenses are auto-withdrawn from my checking account. I regularly check my bank account to see what has been withdrawn, so I am not too surprised when a payment I scheduled long ago shows up - such as estimated state income tax quarterly payments (tho I also have notifications set up so I get text messages), which seems to be a good replacement for the old checkbook/balancing chore.

I also regularly look at my credit card account (tho it also has notifications set up).
 
I do it every month when I get my paper bank statement,never wanted to do online banking due to the fact I've been a victim of identity theft twice in my life
 
Every month since May 2022. Back in control and keeping promise made to Accounting Clerk teacher. He'd said on graduation day: "You're top of the school, hoping you'll get a job in it. If not, keep your banking in check!"

It's been a saviour all these years... Those huge ledgers back then... I was good at finding people's errors. Now, it's my own accounting and on Google sheets. Unfortunately, the bank statement printout is always late in the month and one, two or three transactions are never printed between two dates, it's annoying!
 
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