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I balance my statement. I check for checks written and cashed. Same with deposits. I'm not sure it's the same as balance my checkbook. There is always money in there so I don't worry about running out of money.
Personally, I have not used a check for about 5 years.
If you don't already know what the balance in your account is - within about $25 something is definitely wrong.
As for balancing, what does that even mean any more. All you really need do is review your account for any charges that don't belong. Is that balancing?
Haven't done it in years. I write maybe one actual paper check every 5 years. Everything else is done online. I do look at my balance every couple days and review what has gone through.
Balancing is making sure what you think is in your account is the same amount the bank thinks is in your account. Yes, I guess I'm old school. I check the monthly statement. I don't have to look every day or every week, I have a good reserve in there. But I do keep a separate column which I transfer a figure to monthly so that property tax and insurance fee is there when I need it. Don't really need to do that, but I do.
I look at the money market account, that takes about 2 minutes a month.
The business account is more complicated and that takes about 15 min. a month. We keep enough extra in it that I don't worry about overdrawing it.
For about 6 months I kept a personal spreadsheet and did some budget work. It really helped those first years when the economy went bad. I no longer do that.
You guys sound like you trust your banks way more than I do.
Kinda. Not a proper reconciliation, though. I keep a buffer of $500. When money comes in, I withdraw cash if needed, pay what I need to pay using online bill pay, then sweep all but $500 to savings. There just isn't much need to reconcile.
I balance to the penny every week. I would know if a $600 check was never cashed. Actually over a decade ago, I had a $400 check never get cashed. That money still sits in my checking account. Of course the check is long expired, but I leave it as a mini overdraft protection.
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