How many did not keep a check register preBK?

[momof5]

Just another one of my questions....



I ask this because last night as I was figuring out EXACTLY how much money I have for the mortgage and bills I realized that for the longest time (years) I have depended more on credit cards than anything else. I also would check my checking account online to see balances and such. I used my debit card and only very rarely wrote a check so I didnt bother using a checkbook register to keep track. Now that pennies matter I am doing this again and am happy to say I almost like it. Its like having control again. Probably sounds goofy but thats the only way I can explain it.

So did anyone else slack on the keeping track of where your money was going and not keep a register who started to after deciding on BK?

[holding on]

<raising hand!> Balancing my checking account? fuggedaboudit! The only thing I balanced was the act of poor financial management. Every month was full of routine suprises when my account went overdraft because I had totally forgotten that bill or that purchase was done. Now I have a running excel spreadsheet (trying to find a on-line budgeting/expense service though) with every single transaction recorded. More control is a dire necessity.

[chloe0724]

I am right there with you. I never kept a check register, just looked on-line and always had the credit card if I ever needed extra. Well, since the desiciion was made to go through with the bankruptcy, I have started using one again. It does make me feel as if I have some control. I am writing everything down as soon as I make the purchase. It's nice to know exactly how much money you really have.

[itcaughtup]

I will make a bold statement... I have NEVER balanced my check book from the day my mother taught me how when i was a kid. All changing now though, I Carry my check book around with and make a record of any and all transaction regarding my bank accounts...

[justplaintired]

Isn't BK a good life lesson? Keeping track of what real cash we have is sure an eye opener!

[momof5]

Thanks for being so honest everyone!
I find it amazing that our stories/lives may be very different but all shared such common behavior pre BK.

[chloe0724]

Momof5,

I think a lot of us are in this boat because we had no formal training on how to manage our money. And the credit card companies get their hands on you so young. I got my first card when I was a freshman in college. I truly think we need more taught in school about this.

I never learned how to manage money from my parents (mostly becuase they never had any money to manage and always fought about it).

I think by the time most of us figure out how to make the most of what you have, it's already too late. Hence why we're here.

[momof5]

.

I never learned how to manage money from my parents (mostly becuase they never had any money to manage and always fought about it).

.

Thats what I meant by our stories may be different. I DID learn from my parents. Or I should say I was taught. My Dad made quite a bit of money yet was so frugal. I did real good in my 20's but the past 10 years were definately more credit friendly. I never felt poor or out of money.

[sisterfunkhaus]

I always just use the online feature. I have never balanced my check book since I have online banking.

[pa308]

ditto........but now I watch it very carefully online, checking off checks as they hit the account. One of my things was to hold off paying a check that was due that pay cycle thinking i'd pay it toward the next pay, but didnt have enough money for it by then. I havent filed yet, but now if it has to be paid that cycle i put it in the book and schedule the payment out of my account.

[Phillymanhere]

yeah my hand is raised. I have sporadically kept up my checkbook .... when I went into full credit card mode, I definitely stopped keeping up and balancing my checkbook.
This month is month 2 of no credit-cards, and I'm checking my account online pretty much every day. I write only a few checks .... This DOES feel good to keep up and know what's coming in and going out.

Last month, I was shocked that even though I didn't pay any credit cards (in anticipation of filing for bk), I barely made through the month. I was shocked. Shows you how much I was aware of my spending.
This month I've been making my own coffee, taking food almost everytime I go out for a long time and it has been great so far. I have also hit the grocery store big time, saving a lot on eating out. Funny, those small "eating out" meals can add up. If you're keeping up with them, you spend way more than you think ... Plus once you spend on one little thing, you actually can add to it by spending on another .... Wish me luck for rest of the month. One day at a time.

[justplaintired]

yeah my hand is raised. I have sporadically kept up my checkbook .... when I went into full credit card mode, I definitely stopped keeping up and balancing my checkbook.
This month is month 2 of no credit-cards, and I'm checking my account online pretty much every day. I write only a few checks .... This DOES feel good to keep up and know what's coming in and going out.

Last month, I was shocked that even though I didn't pay any credit cards (in anticipation of filing for bk), I barely made through the month. I was shocked. Shows you how much I was aware of my spending.
This month I've been making my own coffee, taking food almost everytime I go out for a long time and it has been great so far. I have also hit the grocery store big time, saving a lot on eating out. Funny, those small "eating out" meals can add up. If you're keeping up with them, you spend way more than you think ... Plus once you spend on one little thing, you actually can add to it by spending on another .... Wish me luck for rest of the month. One day at a time.

I found that when I go to the grocery I even take a calculator just like I used to! Really weird. Now I go to Dollar stores for some of the stuff we need. I am so much more aware of what is in the bank and how much will be left after we pay our normal bills. It's been scary sometimes when things are tight, I can't just swipe my card if we are short on cash. I kind of have to plan, make a list, stick to that list. All in all, we are relearning the importance of budgeting, not fully gotten it down yet that will take time.

[TX Bluebonnet]

We don't use our checkbook register, although maybe we should. What we've been doing for years now is using our bank account debit card (the type with a visa/mastercard logo) for almost all our purchases. That way I can look at my bank statements to know how much and where I've spent my money, and then enter that info into Quicken. The little bit of cash that we use on occassion I normally just list under misc. So whille I say we don't use our checkbook register, it may be more accurate to say we don't use it manually. Instead it's done electronically through the debit card.

[epiphany]

So did anyone else slack on the keeping track of where your money was going and not keep a register who started to after deciding on BK?

What's a check register?

ep

[momof5]

What's a check register?

ep

Funny you say that! I had to go hunting around the house to find one. When I did the little calendar on the back are the years 2000-2001-2002....

Nothing like antique check registers!