tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post6540847532694200692..comments2024-02-02T07:13:37.313-06:00Comments on Like Merchant Ships: Watching the balanceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-66873408183454872572008-03-08T08:16:00.000-06:002008-03-08T08:16:00.000-06:00I recently found mint.com, which is a neat site to...I recently found mint.com, which is a neat site to help keep track of several bank accounts and credit cards in one place. Checking one site to make sure nothing fishy is going on is much easier than juggling. It also makes nice neat little graphs that show you just how much you're spending on what.Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04230270567237492942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-74238336855219718162008-03-07T17:33:00.000-06:002008-03-07T17:33:00.000-06:00I check ours almost daily also. I like to keep ou...I check ours almost daily also. I like to keep our budget spreadsheets current so I daily check the bank account to compare them. <BR/><BR/>I, too, find it a great way to look at our spending habits. Our online bank account allows you to make reports that show all of your transactions grouped according to the payees. So (back before our frugal and healthier eating days) I was horrified when I saw that in one year we had spent close to $600eating at Wendy's!!! Horrified!! <BR/><BR/>It was part of the turning point for us in our budget and in eating healthier.<BR/><BR/>Thank you Meredith for your wonderful blog. I have learned so much from you in the short time that I've been visiting here. :)Nickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06636393968393816840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-26888030698034596342008-03-07T14:21:00.000-06:002008-03-07T14:21:00.000-06:00I check almost daily, and when the paper statement...I check almost daily, and when the paper statement arrives the checkbook is balanced. I've done this since 1966. We had one check to bounce the first three months we were married and I bounced off the ceiling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-60399016591953048802008-03-07T13:32:00.000-06:002008-03-07T13:32:00.000-06:00Every day but Sunday. Mostly because I enjoy bala...Every day but Sunday. Mostly because I enjoy balancing our books and working our budget. Am I a nerd or what?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-67886277904330215542008-03-07T13:00:00.000-06:002008-03-07T13:00:00.000-06:00Yes, I check regularly. About 3 times/week. I do...Yes, I check regularly. About 3 times/week. I do this because my husband, God love him, never - and I mean never - has been good at keeping his ATM receipts to give to me. It's been a problem more than once and led to an unpleasant conversation between us. <BR/><BR/>BTW, found you recently through a link at another blog. I enjoy reading it. Stop by mine to say hello.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10282795765966618930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-41933014095371078532008-03-07T12:43:00.000-06:002008-03-07T12:43:00.000-06:00I don't, but I'm lucky to have a really, really aw...I don't, but I'm lucky to have a really, really awesome bank. They keep an eye on it for me. When I got married, we made a lot of final payments on things (cake, flowers, etc) which were larger-than-normal transactions, and they were made in 2 states. Then we went on our honeymoon, spending money at an airport (another different state), then again in San Juan, and finally all over the place in the Carribbean. <BR/><BR/>The morning of day 2 on our honeymoon, we got a frantic call on the cell from a lady at the bank, who said "We're worried about the security of your credit card! Somebody has made large purchases up and down the east coast, Puerto Rico, and now the Virgin Islands!" We told them that it was OK, we got married and were on our honeymoon. She said "Oh my goodness!! Congrats!! Would you like us to combine your car insurance accounts?" LOL!!<BR/><BR/>When we got home, we had a fruit basket with flowers and a congrats card.<BR/><BR/>Our bank rocks. :DThe Stepford Stepmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02323001886312519104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-53576499323624278442008-03-07T10:35:00.000-06:002008-03-07T10:35:00.000-06:00I don't ever check my account anymore... but that'...I don't ever check my account anymore... but that's largely because my husband is the manager of our bank. He stays pretty on top of that for us. : ) We do LOVE online banking though and going to online bill-pay was one of the best things we ever did for ourselves, despite my initial resistance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-31422414136732766652008-03-07T08:19:00.000-06:002008-03-07T08:19:00.000-06:00I do, but have learned the hard way not to rely on...I do, but have learned the hard way not to rely on it--somethings still take ages to clear.Hopewellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02510172065585770709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-27268039120067857742008-03-07T07:27:00.000-06:002008-03-07T07:27:00.000-06:00I check and download everyday. We hardly write any...I check and download everyday. We hardly write any checks - we primarily use our debit card and online banking. Those things are almost automatically deducted so it pays to stay on top of things.<BR/><BR/>ManuelaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-2852887392941684982008-03-07T01:28:00.000-06:002008-03-07T01:28:00.000-06:00Yep.... because otherwise I wouldn't know what's l...Yep.... because otherwise I wouldn't know what's left in there..<BR/><BR/>The banks here (the netherlands) have decided loooooong ago that it's either checking online, or paying extra for the monthly reports. <BR/><BR/>Then the choice was easy of course ;)Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06021892170202864510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-53640830503323700542008-03-06T22:44:00.000-06:002008-03-06T22:44:00.000-06:00I check almost daily, but mostly just to check if ...I check almost daily, but mostly just to check if my interest payment on my savings account has come through yet. It's a sickness.Scarletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092952195783277890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-62470364787147319492008-03-06T22:22:00.000-06:002008-03-06T22:22:00.000-06:00I check mine several times a week and also do all ...I check mine several times a week and also do all of my bill paying on line.<BR/><BR/>Blessings,<BR/><BR/>SherEssential Oil Premier Universityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768926289456404485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-42131560818582142992008-03-06T21:20:00.000-06:002008-03-06T21:20:00.000-06:00Our credit union is only online or by phone, but I...Our credit union is only online or by phone, but I don't check it daily. I balance my checkbook using the mail statement.<BR/> <BR/>I also do not have all our bills set up for automatic payment because I've found a few utilities make mistakes and it's hard to get a refund for their mistakes when the money is already in their hands. I also like supporting the old-fashioned USPS stamps and envelopes :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-42280632467816453662008-03-06T20:39:00.000-06:002008-03-06T20:39:00.000-06:00I am addicted to my on line bank acct. Not becaus...I am addicted to my on line bank acct. Not because I love $$ but because I love control. Probably worse than loving $$$!<BR/><BR/>I love online banking!The Nesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13845337148004055979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-49783504165794591002008-03-06T20:25:00.000-06:002008-03-06T20:25:00.000-06:00Yes! Everyday for about the past 7-8 years. It's s...Yes! Everyday for about the past 7-8 years. It's so much easier to keep the checkbook balanced this way and I like the security of being able to watch our spending.Christian - Modobject@Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09687272618188063178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-29869022596222014032008-03-06T19:58:00.000-06:002008-03-06T19:58:00.000-06:00we do most purchases by cash, not by checks. We on...we do most purchases by cash, not by checks. We only have one credit card for emergencies so we don't have a lot of bank transactions going on. We do check our accounts carefully though. <BR/>We never purchase things on line with a credit card. Cutting our risk of having things stored in the memory of anyones computer.Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08505042214124811641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-12108427975239470932008-03-06T19:33:00.000-06:002008-03-06T19:33:00.000-06:00Welcome back, Meredith! I check my bank and credit...Welcome back, Meredith! <BR/><BR/>I check my bank and credit card account about 4-5 times a week, and my 401K once every seven days (since it's not been pretty lately). This way, I know what's going out vs. what's coming in. <BR/><BR/>Anon - no worries. I've never balanced a checkbook in my life, either. Between online advancements and keeping a budget, I haven't had to (yet...).Krishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07805072324014325320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-33220688297887599972008-03-06T19:19:00.000-06:002008-03-06T19:19:00.000-06:00I've never tried it. I usually keep the checkbook...I've never tried it. I usually keep the checkbook balanced pretty well just gathering up the receipts (from my hubby's spending) and a once a week call to my bank's phone banking system. <BR/><BR/>I, too, have been particularly careful since my purse was stolen a couple of years ago from my church parking lot.Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03362618797920704090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-46573011773172974532008-03-06T18:44:00.000-06:002008-03-06T18:44:00.000-06:00Very good point. I am learning the hard way that i...Very good point. I am learning the hard way that it doesn't do any good to work hard on the little frugal details of my life and then stupidly pay a huge late fee because I wasn't on top of my online bills and bank account,etc. So, yes, checking every day is a very good thing.Carolynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16805295726348103543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-49202535721243967992008-03-06T18:11:00.000-06:002008-03-06T18:11:00.000-06:00I am not set up for on-line banking either. Never...I am not set up for on-line banking either. Never have been. I am ashamed to say that in 43 years of marriage I have never balanced a check book. Yes, just plain lazy. I do keep a very generous amount in my account plus now I only write one check a month. The rest of my bills are automatically deducted. Works for me but not for everybody I realize.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-7649865058610021712008-03-06T17:58:00.000-06:002008-03-06T17:58:00.000-06:00Yes, I check ours regularly. It's a great way to ...Yes, I check ours regularly. It's a great way to make sure our accounts are still intact. We've had debit and credit card numbers stolen in the past. In fact, we had to close our CC account a couple of weeks ago due to fraudulent charges.Anne Marie@Married to the Empirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16600919522369171555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-2770031754008122052008-03-06T17:56:00.000-06:002008-03-06T17:56:00.000-06:00i probably don't check it daily, but i do weekly. ...i probably don't check it daily, but i do weekly. our bank just got online banking and i love that i can check and see which checks have gone through and even make transfers so easily.Melissa Stoverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12839619836478423452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-5017215567285943122008-03-06T17:23:00.000-06:002008-03-06T17:23:00.000-06:00I don't check mine every single day, but several t...I don't check mine every single day, but several times a week. I also pay bills online & keep a constant watch on it. Love that online banking!<BR/><BR/>RhodaRhoda @ Southern Hospitalityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16741881774379561710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-20813121928170820112008-03-06T17:17:00.001-06:002008-03-06T17:17:00.001-06:00Our college age son, has his bank send him a text ...Our college age son, has his bank send him a text message every morning with his balance.Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12583367840049774793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-56328114997750889162008-03-06T17:17:00.000-06:002008-03-06T17:17:00.000-06:00I check ours everyday - it's just a great way to k...I check ours everyday - it's just a great way to keep watch over my household:)<BR/><BR/>I'm glad you're backI was rather hoping you had something fabulous going on and no one was sick - but either way, family comes first!Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10142994274994642731noreply@blogger.com