If you use both online banking & your checkbook, how do you reconcile acct?

[Kat45]

I pay most of my bills online, but there are still several for which I don't have that option. I also use checks when I go to the doctor, the hairdresser, etc. I was entering my online payments in my check register so that I could reconcile the account in one place, and so I could quickly see how much was in the account.

Unfortunately, since the electronic payments far surpassed the checks written, I ran out of space on the check register long before I ran out of checks. I found myself making entries on post-it notes that I put inside the checkbook, and that did not work out so well.

I just got a new set of checks (and new register), and I'm trying to figure out how to keep track of all my payments and reconcile my account without going through my checkbook like I did last time. Does anybody have a good method for doing this? Thanks.

[madinmaryland]

1. I go online to check my account every two or three days and verify what I have charged

has cleared and my balance is correct.

[Kat45]

2. Do you not care if you don't have written records of your charges?

One thing I've always liked about the checkbook register is that I can look back to see how much a certain bill was or when I paid for something. I'm not sure how far back you can look

And since my account has been pretty low while unemployed, it's critical that I can see the figure of how much I have at any time.

[ucralum]

4. I use the check register...

...and you're right, you definitely run out of room quicker than you run out of checks. So I just go into a B of A branch, say I need another check register, and they usually ask how many I'd like.

[madinmaryland]

9. Considering I do nearly everything electronically, the need for written records

is not as important. That being said, I do reconcile with my reciepts, but I do it electronically. I write one check a month at the most (rent).

You can send e-checks to damn near anyone or for any bill.

[sammytko]

14. I can go back seven years on my wells fargo account

I have an excel spreadsheet of my budget.

I get paid monthly. I pay everything as soon as the money hits the bank, this way there is no wondering if I paid this or that. I write down how much I have left on the same printed out excel sheet and just subtract from there. I haven't used a check register in eons. BTW - also do not have many bills and I do not make many ATM withdrawls. The only cash money I spend after that is for groceries or going out to eat or minimal shopping.

I'm back to monthly grocery shopping to keep that money tracking chore to a minimum. I hate having all these receipts and paper all over the place.

[flying rabbit]

3. Go to the bank and ask for extra registers

they should give them to you for free.

[LucySky]

5. Continue doing what you have been with your check book.

Go to your online banking system, and you should be able to view a monthly statement. Reconcile your check book to this statement every month as if it were a hard copy.

[LucySky]

6. i'm sorry, i looked at your question again

there will always be timing differences between the online cleared listing, the online statement, and your checkbook. since you still have to write checks as well as use the online system, i would continue to maintain a check register for everything as a master list, and then reconcile the register to the online statement once monthly.

if you never had to write any paper checks, then you would just be able to use the online cleared list to check out the balance.

[Kaleva]

7. Pick up extra registers at the bank.

[Yavin4]

8. I built my own personal Access database

which tracks all of my spending. So, when I write a check, it goes in as a payable, and when it clears, I can update my database.

[Kali]

10. I keep a spiral bound notebook

much easier than the checkbook register and lots more pages LOL

I hang on to ALL receipts too, because sometimes you are on a shopping binge (or just in a hurry) and forget to write things down.

[Kat45]

11. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

I didn't know you could get additional check registers from the bank. That's good to know. I'm surprised, because it seems like Bank of America tries to charge you for everything nowadays. I like the spiral-bound notebook idea as well, though I'd have to remember to enter in items for checks I write out when I'm out somewhere.

[Kali]

12. remembering to enter -

that is why I am in the habit of keeping all receipts - every few days (if I have been to town) I go through them and put any debit/bank card transactions into the notebook.

[Trailrider1951]

13. I use this one that I downloaded for free

http://www.samplewords.com/checkbook-register/

It is in MS Excel, expandable, and I love it! I use one page (tab) per month and download my transactions from my credit union in X.csv form. I then copy and paste the info into the spreadsheet. Very easy and quick. :)

[alphafemale]

15. What's a check register?

Kind of joking but also not so much. I haven't put myself through the stress of physically balancing a checkbook in years.

With on-line banking I just don't see the need. You can also see anything "suspicious" in almost real time.

[Silver Swan]

18. I also never balance my checkbook.

The last time I did was back in the early 1970's.

[mzteris]

16. Back in the 80's, I read an article

about men vs women and "balancing the checkbook"... they followed some "number" of both men and women for about a year, the women religiously and obsessively balancing their checkbook to the penny every month. The men - never.

At the end of the year, the results were nearly identical for instances of being "overdrawn" or even, or ahead....

I stopped that day balancing a checkbook - and this was WAAAAAAAY before online banking. . .


If you bank doesn't post your checks online, find a new one.

Also your "pending payments" - should help you keep a running tally on what "will" be coming out in the next week/month, etc. . .

[MilesColtrane]

17. I still get a monthly paper statement, and I use that to reconcile my account and checkbook.

There is constant urging from the bank to go paperless though.

I'm sure they'll start charging a fee to mail me a paper statement eventually.