If you're still not convinced that you're equal to this task, ask your bank about overdraft protection. Most banks charge a reasonable fee to cover your account when you over-spend.

2torial #0433: Learn2 Balance Your Checkbook (Continued) Work the ledger Now calculate all of your transactions. If this is your first month of balancing, start with your bank statement's "beginning balance" and work through all the transactions to the "ending balance." By now you should have each transaction tracked down and accounted for. So here goes. Work on the back of your statement (use the worksheet if provided): Write down your checkbook's current balance. Add any uncleared checks or earned interest to your checkbook's balance. Perhaps you're asking, why add uncleared checks when you subtract them from your daily balance? Because this is a discrepancy between your records and the bank's records, and the goal of balancing is to reconcile them. If there are any bank charges or uncleared deposits, subtract them from your balance. Check for any errors you may have made, i.e., misplaced or miscalculated deposits or withdrawals (ATMs!). Adjust your balance accordingly. Use a calculator or add on paper, depending on your preferences, the figures from #1 to #4. Your final balance should match your bank statement. Don't worry if it doesn't match. Step 6 will give a few ways to check your work. But if it does match, you've done it! you're balanced. Step 6