Home
>
Personal Finance
>
How to Balance Your Checkbook ? Get a Calculator and Pencil and You are Ready To Go!

How to Balance Your Checkbook ? Get a Calculator and Pencil and You are Ready To Go!

Despite how easy it is to balance a checkbook, very few people take the time to do it and the few who do, don't always do it the right way. If you write down in your checkbook ledger what should be deducted and added, you are on the right track ? if not, start there and follow these nine easy steps to a balanced checkbook. Once you are comfortable with these nine steps, it is possible to balance your checkbook each month within 30-45 minutes.

9 Steps

Make sure that all deposits, withdrawals (maintenance fees, ATM fees, and automatic payments) are added and subtracted and calculate the balance as of the last transaction made.
Keep all check-card receipts, duplicate checks (or returned checks from the bank) and withdrawal slips until you sit down to balance your checkbook.
Mark an "x" in your checkbook by each transaction that has gone through the bank. It is easy to do once your statement arrives and you can put all checks in numerical order and easily check them off.
Do the same thing with any ATM withdrawals or check-card purchases.
Make any adjustments necessary to "true-up" your ledger and comparing deposit slips and purchases/withdrawals. *If you notice any discrepancies between your records and the bank's ? give your bank a call.
To calculate your balance write down your checkbook's current balance at the top of a piece of paper (normally the backside of your statement will have a worksheet to complete for this task).
Subtract any amounts for un-cleared deposits and bank fees such as monthly fees or for any insufficient funds charges.
Add any un-cleared checks and the interest you have earned to this figure.
Finally, compare the final figure that you have to your bank statement ? they should match.

With very little effort, it is easy to keep track of expenses and stay out of trouble with your bank. Balancing your checkbook is very important because you will avoid overdraft or insufficient funds fees due to bouncing checks because of not knowing your balance. In addition you will protect your credit and verify that your financial institution has made no mistakes. You'll also be able to keep better track of cash flow and manage your money with far fewer headaches and surprises.

If You Can't Get Your Checkbook to Balance; Try These Tips!

From time to time, everyone records something wrong or adds incorrectly ? and a few easy tricks make it easy to find that error.

Verify that the dollar amount of the items entered in your ledger matches with the dollar amount of the items on the bank statement.
Compare ledger and deposit slips with your statement.
If the error is a whole number, check your addition and subtraction again.
If the number is divisible by nine, you may have transposed figures ($63 recorded instead of $36).
If the balances still won't match up and you can't find the problem, make an appointment with your bank to figure out the problem. Most banks offer help complimentary or for a nominal fee.

Here are Some Helpful Hints to Stay in Balance

Review your returned checks from the bank regularly to ensure that you've entered in all transactions.
Enter the name of the payee and the amount in your ledger when you write your check instead of waiting until right before you balance it.
Place decimal points exactly where they should be to avoid calculation errors.
Keep all ATM, check-card or deposit/withdrawal receipts together until you are ready to balance your checkbook.

Robb Ksiazek is a successful author and publisher for returned checks from the bank. He has researched and written hundreds of articles and can simplify your online search by recommending merchants for the best value and selections in business or personal checks, address labels, rubber stamps and envelopes.

no-contract cleaning service Glenview ..

In The News:

A new phishing scam targets family photos with fake "Cloud Storage Full" alerts. Criminals steal credit card information through fake sites. Learn protection tips.

South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.

Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALL·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.

Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.

Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.

NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.

Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.

Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.

Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach affecting 2,000 current and former employees, exposing names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.

Washington court rules automated license plate reader images are public records, even when stored by vendors like Flock Safety, setting precedent for transparency.

Fake airline texts claiming flight cancellations are targeting travelers with convincing scams. Learn how cybercriminals steal personal data and credit card info.

Discover how iOS 26's new Adaptive Power feature automatically extends iPhone battery life by learning your usage patterns and adjusting performance intelligently.

New TikTok malware campaign tricks users into running PowerShell commands that download Aura Stealer, which steals credentials and authentication tokens.

Gaia Family offers fixed upfront pricing for IVF cycles with unlimited embryo transfers and financial protection, partnering with over 100 U.S. fertility clinics.

The Jetsons Act aims to position Pennsylvania as a leader in advanced air mobility by establishing regulations for hybrid ground-air vehicles.

Fake Geek Squad invoice emails are targeting users with convincing charges and urgent phone numbers to steal personal information and money.

Fox News Digital's artificial intelligence newsletter digs into a robot in Russia that faceplanted, George Clooney's alarm and OpenAI's rivalry with the New York Times.

Major data breach at Conduent exposes personal information of 10+ million people. Government contractor hit by cyberattack affecting Medicaid, child support systems.

Texas startup Janta Power raises $5.5M for innovative vertical solar towers that generate 50% more energy than traditional panels while using just one-third the land.

NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft launched aboard Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket Thursday afternoon from Cape Canaveral, beginning their journey to Mars with arrival expected in 2027.

Learn how to set email reminders on iPhone and Android so you never forget to reply again. Simple built-in features help you stay organized and on top of messages.

Discover how Apple's passkeys revolutionize Mac security by replacing vulnerable passwords with biometric authentication and encryption for ultimate protection.

New survey reveals 78% of parents fear AI scams targeting their kids, yet nearly half haven't discussed these threats. Learn why this dangerous gap exists.

How to Balance Your Checkbook ? Get a Calculator and Pencil and You are Ready To Go!

Personal Finance