avoidable mistake
Messed up again. The $19.98 I spent on gym pants was spent with my debit card. But I didn’t note that in my register - I would have if I had the receipt. Buuuuut I don’t. Soooo I thought I had $19.98 more than I have in my checking account. Which really is unfortunate because that little mistake will cost me $15.00.
My bank charges $15 for any month in which the balance on either my savings or checking account dips below $100.00. Guess who dipped?
I keep debating whether or not the convenience of having and not switching my bank is worth these little $15 dings. But in this case, I’m glad that being off by $19.98 means a $15 ding instead of a $36 insufficient funds fee. In any case, I’m really disappointed. I’ve been doing so well with keeping up with my ends and keeping my balance in my register to the penny. All it takes is one lost receipt to mess up stuff.
It’s OK though. Maybe I needed this little $15 mistake to get me to be more conscientious… before I mess up and make another, more lucrative, mistake.
Whoaaaa are you with a credit union? That’s something to consider if you aren’t. Many of them have minimum balance requirements of $5.00 (I like Trumark [18th & JFK Blvd]). I have a checking acct w/ PNC as well which has no minimum. Here’s hoping that you give your bank the peace sign soon!
Comment by K. — August 29, 2007 @ 9:03 am
Actually, I do have a credit union account with PFCU and I’ve been procrastinating on switching my activities and funds to it. I should. That said, no matter what account I use, I can’t flub up my balance.
Comment by Sistah Ant — August 29, 2007 @ 10:32 am
I’m sorry to hear about the ding…$15 is bad…
Comment by SavingDiva — August 29, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
Is your checking account interest bearing? If not, I’d switch banks. Even if you didn’t fall below the minimum, your bank is making money off of you either way. Requiring a $200 balance (checking and saving) so they can loan it out at anytime(earning interest from the borrower) AND charging YOU a fee if you go below that amount. Unless there’s a benefit to the account owner (i.e. interest earned), that’s a bad deal.
Comment by Single Ma — August 29, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
I agree with Single Ma. If you train yourself to balance your checkbook then you would save $15. Switch banks and train yourself and wind up paying $0 seems like the best choice.
Comment by Dimples — August 29, 2007 @ 10:36 pm
Dimples - I know you are right and I’m being a little sensitive, but humor my defense, please.
I AM trained on balancing my checkbook, and I’m very good at it. I lost a receipt, though, and that’s why I was $20 off. It’s a rare mistake.
Single Ma - everything you said is 100% true and my procrastination is what kept me from following through. I just found a to-do list from about two months ago and switching to my credit union for this very reason was on that list… just not crossed out.
Comment by Sistah Ant — August 30, 2007 @ 12:42 am
Check out this site for the latest bank deals.
http://bankdeals.blogspot.com/
If you’re gonna switch, mind as well make some extra money while you’re at it.
Comment by Single Ma — August 30, 2007 @ 8:52 pm