It"s All Just Basic Math
It was my mother who sat me down to show me the correct way to fill out a check register.
I remember as if it was just a few weeks back although it's been over forty years.
As far as I was concerned it was Mom's money and it had all better add up to the penny.
Over and over again, using an outdated checkbook connected to an account that no longer existed, my mother would impress upon me the importance of keeping receipts for every purchase and then later comparing it all to my bank statements.
I cannot express how important it is that you know where every penny has gone.
It's almost easier to view your life as a singularity with the idea that you personally are a Stand Alone Business.
The debit and credit in and out of your bank account is a debit or credit of you.
In reality it's all just basic math.
The real problem exists because most of us are too lazy to discipline ourselves and keep track of our own spending habits.
So many people profess to want more out of life, yet it is usually this same group who at one point wished for and then worked for an income at a specific dollar amount.
However, once that goal is obtained, the current income amount quickly seems to fall short in the eyes of the earner.
So let's look at a few basic principles that can help you get the most out of what you have.
CHECK REGISTER: If you have a checking account with a bank than at some point you were issued a register along with your new checks.
Check Registers are very easy to use and come with simple instructions.
The key is to follow through and actually use the tool the bank provided.
For some the print on a check register may be too small to see comfortably with ailing eyes and that's OK.
One source you could use is a Bookkeeping ledger that can be purchased at a place like Office Depot or Staples.
They're bigger than a standard check register and can be purchased with multiple columns depending on what you need.
I always prefer multiple columns because it helped in keeping track with multiple sources of income.
Although a ledger has a much deeper use for bookkeeping, it may be easier for some to use this tool the same as you would the little check register that came in the mail with your new checks.
COURSES: Look in your area for night school or a college courses in basic record keeping.
You can even find courses online.
All you're doing is adding and subtracting so a full on bookkeeping class may be overkill but the basics should be a priority.
Of course if you want full on bookkeeping training it can only help you.
PC PROGRAMS: For the computer savvy, there are plenty of programs available like Quicken or Microsoft Money.
These are great for keeping track of your spending as well as helping you plan for savings, organizing bills and so much more.
If you are trying to manage a business or a household even if you're the only one in it, it is important that you know where every cent goes and that you do not spend more than you take in.
Yes, it its really that easy.
I remember as if it was just a few weeks back although it's been over forty years.
As far as I was concerned it was Mom's money and it had all better add up to the penny.
Over and over again, using an outdated checkbook connected to an account that no longer existed, my mother would impress upon me the importance of keeping receipts for every purchase and then later comparing it all to my bank statements.
I cannot express how important it is that you know where every penny has gone.
It's almost easier to view your life as a singularity with the idea that you personally are a Stand Alone Business.
The debit and credit in and out of your bank account is a debit or credit of you.
In reality it's all just basic math.
The real problem exists because most of us are too lazy to discipline ourselves and keep track of our own spending habits.
So many people profess to want more out of life, yet it is usually this same group who at one point wished for and then worked for an income at a specific dollar amount.
However, once that goal is obtained, the current income amount quickly seems to fall short in the eyes of the earner.
So let's look at a few basic principles that can help you get the most out of what you have.
CHECK REGISTER: If you have a checking account with a bank than at some point you were issued a register along with your new checks.
Check Registers are very easy to use and come with simple instructions.
The key is to follow through and actually use the tool the bank provided.
For some the print on a check register may be too small to see comfortably with ailing eyes and that's OK.
One source you could use is a Bookkeeping ledger that can be purchased at a place like Office Depot or Staples.
They're bigger than a standard check register and can be purchased with multiple columns depending on what you need.
I always prefer multiple columns because it helped in keeping track with multiple sources of income.
Although a ledger has a much deeper use for bookkeeping, it may be easier for some to use this tool the same as you would the little check register that came in the mail with your new checks.
COURSES: Look in your area for night school or a college courses in basic record keeping.
You can even find courses online.
All you're doing is adding and subtracting so a full on bookkeeping class may be overkill but the basics should be a priority.
Of course if you want full on bookkeeping training it can only help you.
PC PROGRAMS: For the computer savvy, there are plenty of programs available like Quicken or Microsoft Money.
These are great for keeping track of your spending as well as helping you plan for savings, organizing bills and so much more.
If you are trying to manage a business or a household even if you're the only one in it, it is important that you know where every cent goes and that you do not spend more than you take in.
Yes, it its really that easy.