What's the best way to handle my checking account?

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What's the best way to handle my checking account?

 

If you don't have problems keeping up with your checking

account, keep doing what you are doing.

 

If you occasionally have bounced checks, I recommend that

you use your checking account only to pay your monthly bills

and use cash for everything else. If you have an ATM card,

destroy it.

 

With that said, I know you will probably not quit writing

checks or destroy your ATM card. So let's look at what

you need to do to keep up with your checking account.

 

Determine exactly how much money you have in your account

even if you have to go to the bank for help.

 

Enter that information on a new page in your check register.

 

Enter the date, your check number, payee and amount in

your check register when you write the check. Don't worry

about the people in line behind you. This will only take

a few seconds. If you like, you can deduct the amount of

the check when you get home.

 

Take your check book with you when you use the ATM and

enter your withdrawal while you are still at the machine.

 

Develop a system to deduct automatic withdrawals. It is

probably best to deduct these on the first of each month.

 

Add any deposits as you make them. You need to find out

how much and when direct deposits should be entered in

your check register.

 

When you receive your bank statement, reconcile it as

soon as possible. If you find any discrepancies check

them out immediately. Don't give up until you are sure

you have resolved the problem. The balance you show in

your check register should match the bank, less any bank

charges.

 

When you reconcile your bank statement be sure to clearly

mark the checks that have been returned to you. One of

the biggest problems people have with overdrafts is

missing a check that is taking a long time clearing the

bank. Go back at least a month to make sure all previous

check have cleared.

 

I really don't mean to insult anyone's intelligence with

this article. Having problems with your checking account,

as with all other money problems, isn't a matter of

intelligence anyway, it's a matter of discipline. It can

cost you a lot of money by not applying that discipline

to managing your checking account.

 

The Budget Stretcher

Week Of: October 25, 2004

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<a href= " http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/BSNL102504.html " >

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[Guest guest]

Checks will not longer have a " float " period as of October 2004. Paper

checks are being processed at once at the point of sale, so be extra

careful about keeping track of your checking account balances.

 

Read the article at the link below for more information:

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13176804 & BRD=2311 & PAG=461 & dept_id=4822\

60 & rfi=6

 

HTH,

Marvel

 

On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 15:45:54 -0000, Diana <joseanddiana wrote:

>

>

> What's the best way to handle my checking account?

>

> If you don't have problems keeping up with your checking

> account, keep doing what you are doing.

>

> If you occasionally have bounced checks, I recommend that

> you use your checking account only to pay your monthly bills

> and use cash for everything else. If you have an ATM card,

> destroy it.

>

> With that said, I know you will probably not quit writing

> checks or destroy your ATM card. So let's look at what

> you need to do to keep up with your checking account.

>

> Determine exactly how much money you have in your account

> even if you have to go to the bank for help.

>

> Enter that information on a new page in your check register.

>

> Enter the date, your check number, payee and amount in

> your check register when you write the check. Don't worry

> about the people in line behind you. This will only take

> a few seconds. If you like, you can deduct the amount of

> the check when you get home.

>

> Take your check book with you when you use the ATM and

> enter your withdrawal while you are still at the machine.

>

> Develop a system to deduct automatic withdrawals. It is

> probably best to deduct these on the first of each month.

>

> Add any deposits as you make them. You need to find out

> how much and when direct deposits should be entered in

> your check register.

>

> When you receive your bank statement, reconcile it as

> soon as possible. If you find any discrepancies check

> them out immediately. Don't give up until you are sure

> you have resolved the problem. The balance you show in

> your check register should match the bank, less any bank

> charges.

>

> When you reconcile your bank statement be sure to clearly

> mark the checks that have been returned to you. One of

> the biggest problems people have with overdrafts is

> missing a check that is taking a long time clearing the

> bank. Go back at least a month to make sure all previous

> check have cleared.

>

> I really don't mean to insult anyone's intelligence with

> this article. Having problems with your checking account,

> as with all other money problems, isn't a matter of

> intelligence anyway, it's a matter of discipline. It can

> cost you a lot of money by not applying that discipline

> to managing your checking account.

>

> The Budget Stretcher

> Week Of: October 25, 2004

> AOL Users Please Visit Online

> <a href= " http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/BSNL102504.html " >

> http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/BSNL102504.html</a>

 

 

 

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