SO: Does anyone still balance checking account?

[Anonymous]

Yes and no. I do go through the statement to make sure everything in in the checkbook, and I do tally the total in the checkbook every couple of pages, but I no l longer make sure my balance matches the bank balance. Usually all I caught were small math errors (on my part) and it was very time consuming. I am never below $10k in my account so I don't worry about it anymore.

[Anonymous]

I monitor the transaction every week or two to look for something odd and keep enough in there that it is never an issue. Yes the bank could get a small amount of error by me but my time is valuable too.

[Anonymous]

I don't and wish I did. I know there's $10K in my checking account. Quicken shows $-200K. I tried the reconciliation feature on Quicken and it confused me. So, I just keep mental track of what's in the back and try to not overdraw.

[Anonymous]

back = bank

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm old enough to remember doing it twice a month with a calculator, my ledger, and a bank statement. Now that everything is online, I just log on and check my transaction history once a week to make sure there are no weird charges. I don't write down every debit card purchase. That would be insane.

Same. When I did it by hand (and then with Quicken) my math was always off by $1.37 or something - not always in the bank's favor - for reasons I couldn't figure out... And had trouble caring about, given the small amount of money and huge amount of time. Now I just make sure paychecks arrive, bills get paid, and there are no charges I don't recognize.

[Anonymous]

Yes but its easy. We write 4-5 checks a month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm old enough to remember doing it twice a month with a calculator, my ledger, and a bank statement. Now that everything is online, I just log on and check my transaction history once a week to make sure there are no weird charges. I don't write down every debit card purchase. That would be insane.

Same. When I did it by hand (and then with Quicken) my math was always off by $1.37 or something - not always in the bank's favor - for reasons I couldn't figure out... And had trouble caring about, given the small amount of money and huge amount of time. Now I just make sure paychecks arrive, bills get paid, and there are no charges I don't recognize.

Well, this is reassuring. I don't feel so guilty about not balancing my checking account.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't in over 15 years. I go through activity every once in awhile.

+1

[Anonymous]

For anyone living paycheck to paycheck, it's a very good idea to balance your checkbook.

[Anonymous]

Who writes checks anymore?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who writes checks anymore?

I write a check to pay my rent (1x/month) and use my debit card for everything else however, I still write down everything I spend.

[Anonymous]

I reconcile about once a week. I have an online spreadsheet and every transaction is in there. I'm in finance, and I'm the PTA treasurer so this sh*t comes naturally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who writes checks anymore?

Such a stupid question.

Some entities, like schools, require checks for almost everything.

Broaden your view.

[Anonymous]

I check my accounts online almost daily, or at least a few times a week, but do not balance my checkbook in the ledger like I did when I first got a checking account (i.e., before online banking). We have been using YNAB for ~7 months, so I have been entering checks and other transactions there, and checks clear when the sync from our bank shows them having been deposited. Before using YNAB it was more confusing trying to track upcoming transactions and checks that may have taken awhile to clear.

[Anonymous]

Generational, plus a much tighter budget.