Keeping track

The one advantage of the old, pre-debit card days is that banking customers had to plan for their purchases. It’s easier to know how much money you’ve spent and how much you have left if you’re working with a limited quantity of cash in your wallet. With debit cards, it becomes easier to let your spending expand beyond what you intended.

It’s extremely important to track your spending in your checkbook whenever you withdraw cash or make a purchase. This way, you’ll stay on budget and be sure you don’t overdraw your account. Depending on your account setup, overdrafts can result in big penalties or send you into debt, so paying attention to your balance is essential.

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