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Show 'f Just Stuff by Jan It's impossible! Just once I would like to get my bank statement and be able to balance my check book. Most people can eventually get theirs to balance, but not me. That's not how my checking account works. First, for a check register to work out correctly a person needs to remember to write down all the checks he writes out; where it's written to, for how much and the check number and date. Unfortunately this is a lesson I am learning the hard way. I can go through my check books and find entries that are just an amount; I can find a store written down but there's no clue as to how much the check was for; or I might have a check number or just a date, no amount, no store or person that it was written to. It's no wonder I have a difficult time making it balance. This of course holds true with my deposits too. I usually forget to write them down completely. This isn't as crucial as misplacing a check, in fact it's a rather nice surprise to find out you have $20 more than you thought, but it certainly fouls up the books! I have been good about remembering to write down all the critical information but I still can't get my check book to balance. I can go through all my cancelled checks and match them with my statement, find all my oustanding checks, come up with a remaining balancivand it still won't "match whal the bank slays I have. The other day I was balancing my book and I was doing great until I got down to the last few lines. I was a mere 15c off. So I checked my arithmetic. This time I was $13.16. Every time I checked it I came up with a different balance. I finally just gave up! I guess I shouldn't complain. I haven't been overdrawn and the bank usually says I have more money than I think I have, but it's frustrating not knowing who's right, and by how much! Another little draw back with checks is the fact that you have to have 10 forms of identification, four letters of recommendation and six character references before a store will take it to the general manager to be approved. That might be a slight exaggeration, but it's not too far off, especially if you're not living in the town you try to cash the check in. Even with their drawbacks I'd be lost without being able to write out checks. Instant money! It's so nice to be able to fill out a check and receive merchandise purchased, or cold, hard cash. You don't pay for anything, just sign your name to the little piece of paper and it's all yours! 1 ! |