How to Register My Checking Account

A checking account register is used to balance your checking account. It is important to know what the balance of your account is to give you an idea of how much you can spend. Having a balanced account will help you avoid overdraft and other bank fees.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Checking account register
• List of expenses and deposits
• Bank statements

1. Get a checking account register. A register is a table where you can list your expenses. You can use computer software like Quicken, but you can also opt for paper registers, available through your bank.

2. Track what you spend. You can do this by listing down every single transaction you make with your card. Write the date and a description of each transaction. List the transaction amount. Note the type of transaction on each expense line. Also list the methods by which your money is debited from your account. Methods may include ATM, cash, credit or check.

3. Add all the deposits together. Add the resulting amount to your starting balance. Also, add the expenses together and subtract the sum from the balance.

4. Cross-check this written information with your monthly statement from the bank. Make sure every expense is accounted for in the correct monetary terms. If there are any discrepancies, recheck your calculations or contact your bank.

5. Balance your checkbook every night. Schedule time at the end of the day to reconcile your account. It is important to get into the habit of balancing your checking account every day.

References

• Balance Track
• Mint
• Bank Rate

Resources

• The Mint
• Yahoo Finance
• My Money