The Hustle of Sistah Ant

I generally check my balance about twice a week online.  I want to see which transactions have cleared, whether or not my manual checkbook register is up to date (’cause every once in a while, I misplace a receipt), and whether or not I should curtail my spending.  I tend to know these things before I go online to check my primary checking account, but it gives me peace of mind to log on and see the numbers right there in front of my face.

There was once a time in college where I hardly cared.  I would go to the ATM just to get a receipt showing my balance because I didn’t know what it was.  The running tally in my head was always off, but the question was always "by how much?"  That didn’t last long.  I couldn’t afford bounced-check fees.  After about my second bounced check, reading some Glinda Bridgforth personal finance books (and finding out about Chex Systems from Angela Nissel’s hilarious The Broke Diaries book), I was a changed young woman.  My checkbook register became my friend, and I’d just carry all my debit card receipts until I logged them in my book.  It’s a system I’m dependent on now.  I’m in no rush to graduate to Money or Qui*ken.  I tried it once… it didn’t work out.  I’m figuring that if it ain’t broke, I won’t fix it.

There are times, however, when I’ve been carrying around receipts and it’s been a few days, and even though I know I paid all my bills to date, and I know there’s a little something in the account just in case, I’m just not comfortable.  Those of you who are used to wearing watches know the feeling.  Without one, your wrist feels naked.  And yeah, you could glance at a wall clock, or maybe whip out a cell phone, or even ask someone the time, but you just know you would feel better if you’d remembered to put your watch on that morning.  That’s how I feel sometimes when I need to log on and check my bank account.

So even though I know my rent, car note, and other bills are paid, and even though I know my automatic savings deposits are getting wired appropriately, and even though I know there’s a little buffer in my checking account to avoid unexpected issues, like a math error (oh so rare) or an EZ pass withdrawal (those sneaky petes), I’ll be checking my bank account against my check register today.  Just for GP.  And it’ll feel good to see that everything is as it should be.