Comments on: Eh, the checkbook’s close enough! http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/03/08/eh-the-checkbooks-close-enough/ Helping readers to use bargains wisely since 2005 Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:24:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Patsy http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/03/08/eh-the-checkbooks-close-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-289686 Patsy Sat, 12 Feb 2011 20:40:45 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/03/08/eh-the-checkbooks-close-enough/#comment-289686 If you want to do #1, 6 or 7, you can write the amounts in the check book and subtract. You can figure that into balancing at the end of the month statement, and you will have an idea of the amount you are stashing away. I used to do something like that and I knew what I had when there was a need for emergency spending. If you want to do #1, 6 or 7, you can write the amounts in the check book and subtract. You can figure that into balancing at the end of the month statement, and you will have an idea of the amount you are stashing away.
I used to do something like that and I knew what I had when there was a need for emergency spending.

]]> By: m@ http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/03/08/eh-the-checkbooks-close-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-913 m@ Wed, 08 Mar 2006 15:53:25 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/03/08/eh-the-checkbooks-close-enough/#comment-913 The best tip to go along with #4 and #5 is Flex Spending Account reimbursements. Tax free (well, going in) savings. The best tip to go along with #4 and #5 is Flex Spending Account reimbursements. Tax free (well, going in) savings.

]]> By: mbhunter http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/03/08/eh-the-checkbooks-close-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-907 mbhunter Wed, 08 Mar 2006 07:50:42 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/03/08/eh-the-checkbooks-close-enough/#comment-907 Thanks for the comments samerwriter! I like the idea of putting things in savings first then withdrawing from there. We have ours put directly into checking, but we also have a number of automatic payments each month. We're more comfortable with the money in the right account by default. Usually when I deposit "extra" money from rebates, etc., it does go into the savings account. Thanks for the comments samerwriter! I like the idea of putting things in savings first then withdrawing from there. We have ours put directly into checking, but we also have a number of automatic payments each month. We’re more comfortable with the money in the right account by default.

Usually when I deposit “extra” money from rebates, etc., it does go into the savings account.

]]> By: samerwriter http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/03/08/eh-the-checkbooks-close-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-905 samerwriter Wed, 08 Mar 2006 07:37:29 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/03/08/eh-the-checkbooks-close-enough/#comment-905 I'm not a big fan of any of those ideas except #10 (pay yourself first and last). I think this really is a superset of #8 and #9; we set our budget, and keep everything above and beyond the budget in savings (actually all our money is direct deposited to our savings account, and we withdraw $X per month to cover our budget). Most of the other ideas seem to complicate matters -- like your wife, I wouldn't be willing to not have my checkbook balance. How do you make sure you didn't miss an expenditure or deposit that way? I also have a general concern with account cushions in that they remove the downside of "going negative" in your account. That is, it's too easy to rely on the cushion. I’m not a big fan of any of those ideas except #10 (pay yourself first and last). I think this really is a superset of #8 and #9; we set our budget, and keep everything above and beyond the budget in savings (actually all our money is direct deposited to our savings account, and we withdraw $X per month to cover our budget).

Most of the other ideas seem to complicate matters — like your wife, I wouldn’t be willing to not have my checkbook balance. How do you make sure you didn’t miss an expenditure or deposit that way? I also have a general concern with account cushions in that they remove the downside of “going negative” in your account. That is, it’s too easy to rely on the cushion.

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