This is the one about my checkbook.
Posted September 24th, 2008 by Mike Lawson
I balance my checkbook quite regularly. I enter every deposit and every withdraw. Each time I use my debit card I save the reciept and enter it into my spreadsheet (I use Google Docs because I can access it anywhere).
Am I in the minority here?
Daniel (Mr. D) jokes about it being a waste of time…but I have, on multiple occasions, found double charges or incorrect charges because I meticulously compare my spreadsheet to my account balance online.
So, who’s with me? Who’s with Dan?
6 Responses to “This is the one about my checkbook.”
September 24th, 2008 at 8:31 am
I agree with you, I balance my checkbook once a week, I use Microsoft Money. As an accountant I see the mistakes that banks, stores, and credit card companies make, and you have to keep a close eye on them.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I would just like to say, for the record, that I now compare my receipts with what I’m being charged by stores. I don’t use a program or keep track though, because as long as they match, what does it matter?
September 24th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
I’m also an accountant, and I’ve never balanced my check book. I just keep an eye on my checking account online. I just remember what should be coming in and going out, if I see a charge that doesn’t sit right, then I look into it more.
September 25th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
I’m with you, not just because of the mistaken charges, but because of people who take forever to deposit checks I’ve written letting me think I have more money than I do.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
As you know how OCD I am, I have two spreadsheets that I cross-reference against each other (one I imput the actual line-by-line phyiscal receipts like a checkbook and the other is big ticket items with a line for “receipt total” from the previous spreadsheet). Then all that gets compared against the actual withdrawals from my account.
If the $$ doesn’t add up in both spreadsheets and online, there’s a mistake somewhere! That’s how I’ve found a couple of sly waiters/waitresses changing my $3 tip into an $8 tip or an accidental double-charge by an incompetent store clerk.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I should also add that since I don’t use cash, I can easily pile up anywhere from 3-15 receipts a day. Try keeping track of that in your head!
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