Comments on: Balancing a checkbook http://www.livingalmostlarge.com/2009/07/02/balancing-a-checkbook/ Trying to live large ...one step at a time Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:14:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: LAL http://www.livingalmostlarge.com/2009/07/02/balancing-a-checkbook/comment-page-1/#comment-7481 LAL Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:57:00 +0000 http://www.livingalmostlarge.com/?p=3853#comment-7481 Ouch on the accidental bill pay. I keep it in my bank's savings account $5k for overdraft. We have a large mortgage and it's too risky to not have enough in there in case of accident. Ouch on the accidental bill pay. I keep it in my bank’s savings account $5k for overdraft. We have a large mortgage and it’s too risky to not have enough in there in case of accident.

]]> By: Meg from FruWiki http://www.livingalmostlarge.com/2009/07/02/balancing-a-checkbook/comment-page-1/#comment-7459 Meg from FruWiki Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:24:30 +0000 http://www.livingalmostlarge.com/?p=3853#comment-7459 I'm not even sure where my checkbook is. I've written -- in my life -- MAYBE one or two checks. My mom can't believe this, but then she still uses checks for a lot of things and, as behind the times as her local bank is, I'm not even sure how to set up online billing for her -- if it's even possible. (Seriously, their website looks like it hasn't been significantly updated since about '97.) My husband and I now do pretty much everything by check card, automatic payment, or cash. And we normally don't even use much cash, but we recently started going to a weekly farmers' market and the merchants there are cash only. And anyhow, we try to keep $1000 in our checking account that we don't count as money to spend. It's sort of a mini emergency fund in addition to money we have elsewhere. It's enough to cover our largest bill -- our mortgage. And, wouldn't you know, one month the automatic systems at the mortgage company and bank screwed up (yes, it took a joint effort) and charged us twice. Luckily, we had the money there, so it was just a matter of waiting a couple weeks till everything got figured out. I’m not even sure where my checkbook is. I’ve written — in my life — MAYBE one or two checks. My mom can’t believe this, but then she still uses checks for a lot of things and, as behind the times as her local bank is, I’m not even sure how to set up online billing for her — if it’s even possible. (Seriously, their website looks like it hasn’t been significantly updated since about ‘97.)

My husband and I now do pretty much everything by check card, automatic payment, or cash. And we normally don’t even use much cash, but we recently started going to a weekly farmers’ market and the merchants there are cash only.

And anyhow, we try to keep $1000 in our checking account that we don’t count as money to spend. It’s sort of a mini emergency fund in addition to money we have elsewhere. It’s enough to cover our largest bill — our mortgage. And, wouldn’t you know, one month the automatic systems at the mortgage company and bank screwed up (yes, it took a joint effort) and charged us twice. Luckily, we had the money there, so it was just a matter of waiting a couple weeks till everything got figured out.

]]> By: LAL http://www.livingalmostlarge.com/2009/07/02/balancing-a-checkbook/comment-page-1/#comment-7457 LAL Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:43:11 +0000 http://www.livingalmostlarge.com/?p=3853#comment-7457 I sort of use mint, but I'm not sure how comfortable I am using an online service. I sort of use mint, but I’m not sure how comfortable I am using an online service.

]]> By: CentsInTheCity http://www.livingalmostlarge.com/2009/07/02/balancing-a-checkbook/comment-page-1/#comment-7452 CentsInTheCity Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:34:32 +0000 http://www.livingalmostlarge.com/?p=3853#comment-7452 I haven't balanced my checkbook in probably close to 10 years. I think partly this is due to change in technology. I can login to my accounts online and see the updates to my checking account, savings accounts, and credit cards. I also have a Mint account, where I can see everything in one place...all of which is usually up-to-date within the past few days. I login at least once a week and keep track of my spending on a spreadsheet, so I notice any charges or amounts listed that are out of the ordinary right away. I haven’t balanced my checkbook in probably close to 10 years. I think partly this is due to change in technology. I can login to my accounts online and see the updates to my checking account, savings accounts, and credit cards. I also have a Mint account, where I can see everything in one place…all of which is usually up-to-date within the past few days. I login at least once a week and keep track of my spending on a spreadsheet, so I notice any charges or amounts listed that are out of the ordinary right away.

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