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Across the Fence:  Checkbooks  |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 15 2009 : 07:27:43 AM
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After having a really bad experience with Doug and I sharing a checking account- we now have separate accounts and I am taking really good care of mine!
Do any of you "round up" your account?
For instance if you buy something for $3.75 do you subtract $4 from the total?
What I do is I write down the transaction name and in the section where it asks for the payment amount, I put down the true amount- the $3.75 but in the column where you are supposed to keep a running balance, I subtract the rounded up amount- $4.
This helps with two things. It creates a cushion just in case I ever make a calculation error, and you don't have to worry about subtracting cents. I try to go ahead and update my checkbook right there at the check stand, but if there is a line I do it as soon as I get into the car. Otherwise I forget and I have to play catchup.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2009 : 07:39:00 AM
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| You are going to love this, I don't keep a running balance in my checkbook! I post the checks when I write them, then I check my bank transactions on the computer. I check off the check when it clears the bank. I only write 4 to 6 checks a month. We have several auto debits and we use the debit card ALL the time. I was having so much trouble keeping track of the debit receits that by the end of the month I would have dozens of them. Then looking them up on the bank statement took hours. Now, I check my bank statement on line EVERY morning. When I get home from town, I check the bank statement and compare the receits with what has went through the bank. Then I throw them away. By doing this every day, I don't even look at my bank statement when it comes in the mail. Just file it. I can also see if I am running short and can transfer from my savings to checking at the same time. This has worked for me for several years and saved countless hours. |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2009 : 07:41:26 AM
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I try to do that and then when I balance my check book I hide it from my self so say I have $20.00 in overage change I go ahead and balance the account and then subtract that amount from the check book so it really stays in there but my check book is always in balance and I have a buffer.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2009 : 07:56:19 AM
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I don't keep up with my registery eaither! I can check my account online and once or twice a week I check to make sure all the checks have cleared (I can tell by the check number). If something hasn't cleared yet I just make a mental note. I keep my reciepts in my wallet and once it clears I discard the receipt. This has worked for me so far!
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com
Felt and Fabric Crafts
www.willowartist.etsy.com
www.willowtreecreek.com
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simplyflowers
True Blue Farmgirl
489 Posts
Jamie
Locust Grove
Virginia
USA
489 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2009 : 08:12:59 AM
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AHHHHH!!! I'm funny about that! I have to know the exact amount that is in there....I don't know why, my DH doesn't get it.
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." -- Thomas Edison
Check out my blog!! http://bestcoupleintown.blogspot.com/ |
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2009 : 08:14:52 AM
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| I do the same as Belle and Julie. I've never been able to keep track of every little tiny purchase on my own, so I love letting the electronic statement keep track for me. |
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Suzan
True Blue Farmgirl
659 Posts
suzanne
duncannon
pa
USA
659 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2009 : 09:39:35 AM
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| I'm with Belle, I work in our financial institution so I can keep a daily pulse on things, although anyone can now with electronic banking programs. |
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bohemiangel
True Blue Farmgirl
2087 Posts
Bridget
Ligonier
pa
USA
2087 Posts |
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RuralSuburbia
True Blue Farmgirl
251 Posts
Leslie
Northern CA
USA
251 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2009 : 10:10:38 AM
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I used to spend quite a bit of time balancing the checkbook to the penny, but hubby would check and recheck it so I decided that he can just do it all. Finances are SO not my job anymore. Anything regarding the household finances makes me sick, and I am much happier if I don't actually see the numbers! All the cash I make through my child care business and greeting cards gets put away in a secret place (it's called the Dental Fund). My kids LOVE the dentist! ;-)
*I've got stars in my eyes and exactly $1 in my pocket!* |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2009 : 10:59:22 AM
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I used to do that, Alee, because when I had a joint account, I didn't always know about certain expenses. So, I would keep a buffer in there to try alleviate any problems. It didn't always work. Sometimes he spent way more than the buffer. Then, when I started checking our account online, I was able to pick up those "extra" expenses and point them out. Now, I'm the only one on the account and I still check online every day. It's much easier to balance daily than it is to spend hours going through a statement in the mail which I always put off because I hated it.
Farmgirl Sister #35
"If you can not do great things, do small things in a great way." Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)
my blog:
http://lisamariesbasketry.blogspot.com/
[size=1]My apron website:
http://lisamariesaprons.bravehost.com [size=1] |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2009 : 12:01:15 PM
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We tried the managing online but found out the hard way that even though our bank says it is up to date- it isn't! Last night it said I had about $1200 more than I did in the account because some debit card purchases made 3 days ago still hadn't posted!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2009 : 12:30:33 PM
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The delay can be an issue sometimes...especially with online purchases, or checks that have been mailed in but not cashed yet.
But if I spent $1200 all at once I think I would remember! |
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harmonyfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
785 Posts
Debbie
Southeastern
Ohio
USA
785 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2009 : 12:49:45 PM
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I'm with Alee....my DH bounced enough checks in a year to make a mortgage payment....THAT MADE ME SOOOOO MAD! He makes most the money, but can't manage it. I can mamage it to a penny, but don't make very much. Why can't he hand the managing over to me? Is it a bring home the bacon complex or what? I have begged him for years and years...but he just won't loosen the grip. I have my own checking and I do like Alee does. Write the correct amount in the space but round up the deduction. I zero it out at the end of the year and buy something our family needs. Three years ago, I bought a television. It's amazing how fast those pennies can ad up.
Debbie
"If you can't find the time to do it right...how will you find the time to do it over" |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2009 : 1:32:51 PM
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Aime- That's the thing- I didn't spend it all at once, I spent it at probably 10 different locations as I was buying things for school, groceries, gas etc etc. I have had 27 entries into my check register just since Monday! This is way unusual for us- It only happens about twice a year (School Aid Money), but last night I had gotten a little behind and started panicking because I wasn't quite sure where I was at. How embarrassing would it be to have $300 in groceries at Costco and have the debit card decline. EEKS!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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K-Falls Farmgirl
Chapter Leader
2096 Posts
Cheryl
Klamath Falls
Oregon
USA
2096 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2009 : 5:19:15 PM
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Oh No !! I do not keep a check register either.. But I do the Online thing too.. I know exactly how much $$ I have at all times. It works for me.. to be able to immediately transfer funds from my personal account to & from household account as needed to avoid over drawing an account & getting draft fees. I do keep all receipts however of everything we purchase.( incase there is a mistake) Dh has his own checking account, which helps. We use the household account for food & expenses running the house like Mortgage & utilities. We budget really tight on that account. allowing our own persoanl accounts more freedom. It has been this way for 8 years ...so why change?
http://www.k-fallsfarmgirl.blogspot.com/
Come visit the barn at http://barndoorcreations.blogspot.com/
Cheryl
Farmgirl #309
"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." Maya Angelou |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2009 : 8:01:26 PM
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Alee - I do the exact same thing in our checkbook. And we too have had bad experiences but we still bank together - I just make sure to check the online info daily to see what purchases I have missed. Anyhow, it sure is nice to have a little cushion
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" |
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rhondacate
True Blue Farmgirl
234 Posts
Rhonda
Janesville
CA
USA
234 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2009 : 9:11:53 PM
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I don't even think I own a check register. Online banking was invented for people like me. :)
Being a newlywed, we are still figuring out how to blend our finances and figuring out how that all works together. We have decided that we are going to sit down and redo our budget this weekend.
~Rhonda
http://rmfo-blogs.com/rhonda |
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2009 : 08:53:36 AM
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Funny this should come up - my resolution for this year was to keep my checkbook register up to date! I, like many of us, relied on on-line banking to keep it up, but sometimes it would get dangerously low because of debits or checks held up, and I wouldn't realize it and spend anyway. Just for my own peace of mind, I"m going to keep it up this year (as long as I can get dh to tell me when he debits something!)
Farmgirl Sister #98
Check out my new online store
http://www.shopthefrontier.com/VFstore/index.php?manufacturers_id=79&osCsid=6be4b25bf9555031c6e2e86bbde23dba |
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knittingmom
True Blue Farmgirl
665 Posts
AnneMarie
Edmonton
Alberta
Canada
665 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2009 : 09:46:07 AM
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I always round up that way I'm not short.
"There is no foot so small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world" |
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abbysshadow
True Blue Farmgirl
224 Posts
Sherry
Dayton
Nevada
USA
224 Posts |
Posted - Jan 17 2009 : 10:56:53 AM
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I balance our 2 accounts to the penny every month. I use the checkbooks and debit card, hubby uses cash. If he needs a check, he takes one and I write it in the register with his name, until he gives me the receipt...he gets cash "allowance" every 2 weeks after he hands me his paycheck :) Works for us.. lol
...I cannot do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good that I can do... |
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K-Falls Farmgirl
Chapter Leader
2096 Posts
Cheryl
Klamath Falls
Oregon
USA
2096 Posts |
Posted - Jan 17 2009 : 5:21:24 PM
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It amases bme that when I debit at a store, By the time to check the bank on line when I get home it has already cleared.I always know how much $$ I have,. Our house expense money is done by check from a seperate account and only for that, so I only deposit enough money for paying those type of bills. This works best for Dh & me.
http://www.k-fallsfarmgirl.blogspot.com/
Come visit the barn at http://barndoorcreations.blogspot.com/
Cheryl
Farmgirl #309
"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." Maya Angelou |
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Across the Fence: Checkbooks |
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Checkbooks
