Quick Poll: How many people under the age of 35 - nah, make that 40 - actually balance their checkbook? I'm saying, you write down every amount you spend, every withdrawal you make, EVERYTHING. How many of you do this?
I think I have two entries in my checkbook from 1999, in a checkbook I used to write a total of four checks. That is how often I "balance" my checkbook.
We were talking about this over lunch in Slovenia. All but two of the people at the table balance their checkbooks; one of the 'nays' being yours truly. I mean, c'mon. That's what the internet is for, right?
My mom told me that she caught the bank messing up twice. One time they randomly charged her fifty bucks. Another time they accidently gave her forty-five. Seriously, that five dollar difference is not enough to convince me that all that writing and adding and subtracting is worth the money-saving catch-the-banking fun. Of course, she called the whistle on one and not the other. I told her that, depending on which came first, I think the bank was just trying to get back its own cash.
I'm still baffled people actually keep track of this stuff.
I did balance my checkbook, back in the day. Unfortunately, the other half doesn't write anything down ever, so my writing down my half of things wouldn't have done us much good.
I'm under 35. Last time I balanced my checkbook was Spring 1997. Ah, that was a good year.
Yeah, I think I tried for about four days. You have to what? Write stuff down? And then keep track? Nuh-uh, no sir, not for me.
A now downloads everything into Money and at least looks things over and makes sure he knows where all the expenses are from.That's close enough.
I think the big difference is that we almost never write checks. We pay bills online or with a debit card. The only times we use a check are when we absoposilutely have no other choice. So why bother? Everything shows up in our account statement telling us exactly where and when we paid already.