[disneysteve]

I just want to make sure I'm clear. Do you keep any type of written record of your transactions? I still do things the traditional way with pen and paper. If I write a check, I record it in the paper checkbook register. If I pay a bill online, I record it in the register. When an automatic payment is made from my account, I record it in the register. I don't use a debit card so don't have to deal with recording those transactions, but if I did use one, I'd record those as well. When I make a deposit, I record that in the register. Then when the monthly statement comes, I check my records against the bank's records and balance the account. It takes about 10 minutes per month and is quite easy. In fact, many months, my 14-year-old daughter does it for me and she has done so since she was 9. If the numbers don't add up, we figure out where the mistake was made. Usually, it was an error on my part but occasionally, I find a bank error.