How Writing Checks can Keep Your Budget under Control

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Creating a household budget is the best way to get your finances under control and properly manage them. Creating the budget is easy enough — sticking to that same budget: that is often much harder. You have to be committed to getting your finances under control — you have to take charge of your budget. One tool that can help you stick to your budget is your checkbook. Writing checks for purchases instead of swiping your debit card can help you control your spending.

You may be wondering how a checkbook can keep your finances under control. Take a minute to think about how easy it is to swipe that card. You use it at the grocery store, at the gas station, and at the Redbox to rent movies. Before you know it, you have lost track of the purchases you made for the day — and the next thing you know, your bank account is overdrawn.

Two Ways Your Checkbook Can Help

With a checkbook, you have to write out a check for each and every purchase. This can help you in two ways. First, when you fill out the check, you are creating a record of your purchase, either by using duplicates or by recording the purchase in your register. At the end of the day, you can quickly check your register and see exactly how much money you spend and where.

Second, writing checks can make you rethink a purchase. Do you really need that fountain drink or your favorite cappuccino if you have to write a check for such a small purchase? When you use your checkbook instead of your debit card, you are much more likely to reduce your spending simply because you don’t want to take the time to fill out a check for minor purchases. Those minor purchases add up each month — if you reduce the number of small purchases you make, you will save money.

Adhering to a monthly budget can help you reduce spending, save money for the future, and make your financial situation more secure. The first step is creating your budget. The second step is sticking to it, and your checkbook can help with that. Contact www.checkworks.com to learn more about our wide selection of personal checks and registers to help you with your budget tracking.

Financial Tips for Living on Your Own

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Living on your own for the first time can be quite the overwhelming experience. All of a sudden, you are in charge of your life. Your parents aren’t there to write the checks to pay the bills — you have to do it on your own. Making the transition from childhood to adulthood is not an overnight process. It is something that takes time, and you can expect to make your fair share of mistakes. The biggest responsibility you face is meeting your financial obligations. Here are some tips to help you get started into adulthood with solid financial footing:

  • Open a checking account as soon as you get your first job. Even if you are not a legal adult yet, you can still open a checking account. You may need your parents’ help, but once you have a checking account, you can start managing your money.
  • Keep track of every check you write. You can do this by using the ledger that comes with your checkbook, or you can order a check register from us. Writing down every purchase you make and every bill you pay will help you keep track of where your money is going.
  • Don’t forget to keep track of all deposits. It can be easy to overlook a deposit if it is made automatically, so make sure you know when your paychecks will be deposited.
  • Balance your register with your bank statement every month. Make sure there are no discrepancies.

Learning financial responsibility starts as soon as you have money to manage. Whether it is an allowance or a job, opening a checking account will help you learn to manage your money. If you choose not to open a checking account until you are a legal adult and moved out on your own, keep those tips in mind. It is never too late to learn how to be financially responsible.

One last thing to keep in mind — when you do move out on your own for the first time, make a budget and stick to it. There are various ways you can do this. One popular method is the envelope system, in which you have an envelope for all expenses, such as utilities, rent, food, entertainment, gas, etc. Once the envelope is empty, you cannot refill it. This will help teach you to budget your weekly allotments with care.

Contact us today at www.checkworks.com, and we can set you up with personalized checks for your checking account.

Using a Checking Account to Rebuild Your Credit

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It only takes a little while to ruin your credit — but it can take years to repair it. With the rough economy of the past few years, more and more people are learning what it’s like to have to rebuild their credit. People who once had stellar credit now find themselves struggling to raise their scores past the 600 mark. Whether the cause was a delinquent credit card, or even a foreclosure, the result is still the same — low credit scores and few options for rebuilding. One way you can start to rebuild your credit is through the use of personal checks.

Opening and maintaining a checking account is a great first step towards establishing yourself as creditworthy again. When you maintain a checking account in good standing for months and even years, you are demonstrating to creditors that you know how to manage your money. Some of the ways to maintain your account include:

  • Making regular deposits into your checking account. If possible, opt for direct deposit from your employer.
  • Write a steady amount of checks each month.
  • Keep your account balanced — never overdraw your account!
  • Keep your balance well above zero.

The direct deposit of your paychecks is something that a possible creditor, such as an automobile loan lender, can look at. They can see at a glance that you have a steady, reliable income each week. This is also an easy way for them to see how much you earn each week and how long you have been earning your income — factors they will consider when deciding whether or not to offer you a loan.

The use of written checks and keeping your account balanced will also help you to learn important money-management skills. These are important to know, especially if your credit score plummeted due to mismanagement. Maintaining your register provides you with a clear record of where and when you spend money, making it easy for you to see where you can cut expenses. It is much easier to keep track of your money through written checks than by swiping your debit card.

Finally, keeping your balance above zero is another way in which you can show potential creditors that you know how to manage money. It also demonstrates that you always have at least some money on hand, making it easier for you to meet monthly payment obligations. Visit www.checkworks.com to order your new checks for your checking account and start rebuilding your credit one check at a time.

The Importance of a Small Business Checking Account

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When you own a small business, one of the most important aspects of running that business is keeping good financial records. You have to have a clear and concise record of where your money is going to ensure that your business doesn’t fail. One aspect of keeping good records is by writing checks. When you pay your vendors and other expenses with business checks, you create written records of where you spend money.

You can easily see which expenses were paid and how much was paid. You don’t have to worry about whether you forgot to write a receipt, because you have the duplicate check as a record. Here at CheckWorks, we offer a wide selection of business checks that are ideal for record keeping. With duplicate checks, you can write checks for anything and know that you have an instant record being created at the time you are writing the check — this is truly a convenience that you cannot afford to be without.

Balancing your checkbook for your business every month is another important part of keeping good financial records. When you get your bank statement, you have to make sure your records match those of the bank. You have to account for any discrepancies. Careful record keeping will make things much easier for your accountant at tax time, too — no one wants to file their taxes without specific records documenting all purchases and expenses.

If you are already a small business owner, or you are planning on starting a new business, make sure one of your first steps is opening a business checking account. While it may be tempting to use your personal account for your business – as juggling more than one account can be confusing — make sure your business has a separate account. This way, all business-related activity is tied to one account, and you don’t have to sort through personal expenses and business expenses.

Visit us today at Checkworks.com and have a look at our selection of business checks.

Use a Checking Account to Start Building Credit Worthiness

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When you are starting out in the “real” world as an adult, you have a lot of choices in front of you. You have to make careful choices, too, because they can affect the rest of your life. For example, if you decide to open several credit lines, and wind up getting behind, you can damage your credit. A better alternative to establishing some credit is to open a checking account. When you write checks, you will not only be learning how to manage your money with care, you will slowly be building your credit worthiness.

As a young adult, you need to be cautious in the financial world. It only takes one missed payment to ruin your credit, but it can take years to restore it. Instead of rushing out and snatching up credit cards, learn how to live within your means with a personal checking account. Here at CheckWorks, we offer a wide selection of personal checks to help you on your journey into adulthood.

After you have successfully handled your money in your checking account for a few years, you can start thinking about taking on a credit card. Your bank may have a credit card to offer you. Just remember to take things slow when it comes to credit cards. Avoid having too many cards at once, and make sure you pay off your balances quickly. If you ever get in a jam and have to miss a payment, always contact your credit card company and let them know the situation, and when to expect your payment. Communication is very important in the credit world.

By learning how to manage your finances with a checking account, you will soon be ready for credit cards, automobile loans, and, eventually, a mortgage. The first step to being a full-grown adult is a checking account — and we are here to help you enjoy your checking account by giving you stylish, fun checks to use!

Contact us today at CheckWorks to choose from our selection of personal checks, registers, and other money management tools. We want to help you manage your finances with ease!

Teaching Money Management to Teens

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Money management is not normally on the list of available courses when your teen is in high school. It falls on your shoulders, as the parent, to ensure that your child understands financial matters and is ready to face the world when the time comes. CheckWorks is here to help you teach your teen about managing their money. A checking account is one of the easiest tools to use to teach money management. Our wide assortment of checks, registers, and other budget-tracking tools are quite useful in learning about finances. Here are some more tips to help you teach your teen how to be a money-savvy adult!

  • Show your teen how to use the register to record every purchase with a check, instead of swiping their debit card. Remind them of how easy it is to overdraw a checking account by always using a debit card. Writing checks provides clear records of where their money is going and how much is left.
  • If your teen struggles to remember to use the register, or complains that it is too time-consuming, have him/her use duplicate checks. This will provide a copy of each check written. Your teen can then copy the information to the register after making a purchase.
  • Teach your teen to live within his/her means. If they don’t have the cash to cover a purchase, then they shouldn’t buy it. Make sure you do the same and teach by example.
  • Once your teen reaches legal age, they can expect lots of credit card offers. Encourage them to ignore the offers — too many credit cards can lead to trouble! Instead, help them find a single card with the best benefits. This will help them build their credit without going into too much debt.
  • Help your teen balance his/her checking account at the end of each month. Remind them to ensure that the bank’s statement and their register matches. Tracking down any discrepancies is a must.

As the parent, you need to show your teen the best ways to manage their money in a responsible manner. Remember — you are not just raising a child; you are raising an adult. Contact us today and help your teen order personal checks, registers, and other money-management tools to ensure that he/she enters adulthood confident in their money matters.

Managing Household Finances the Right and Easy Way

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Managing your household budget just got easier, thanks to the wide selection of checks from CheckWorks. The right checkbook can help you keep track of your spending habits, ensuring that your bank account is never overdrawn. An added benefit is that by knowing your specific spending habits, when you need to cut corners, your detailed records will make it easier to eliminate unnecessary spending.

Some of the ways that our checkbooks can help you manage your household finances include:

  • Duplicate checks – a copy of every check you write provides you with clear records to monitor your spending.
  • Detailed registers – specific, easy-to-read registers give you a place to record the details of each transaction, which can be quite helpful during tax time.
  • Numerous styles – while the various styles of our checks may not specifically help you manage your finances, the different styles will at least make your check-writing experience a little bit more fun.

Here are some other tips for managing your finances and staying afloat instead of sinking like a rock.

  • Remember that a checkbook is not free money – make sure you always have enough in your account to pay for your purchase.
  • Balance your checkbook every month to ensure that your bank’s records match your own. Any differences should immediately be tracked down and accounted for – never ignore discrepancies.
  • Invest in one of our binders or other organizational tools – they are perfect for keeping all of your checks, duplicate checks, and registers in one place. When you need to find the records for a specific purchase, you will know exactly where to look. Our Receipt Keeper is another handy item you might find useful if you always have lots of receipts at the end of the year.
  • Make sure you always record debit card purchases in your register. One of the easiest ways people become overdrawn is by forgetting to record card purchases. When you choose to use your debit card, whip out your register right then and there to make note of the purchase.
  • Save your receipts, canceled checks, duplicate checks, and other financial records in a safe, secure place for tax season. Your taxes will be easier to file when you have clear records of the year’s purchases.

To order your checks and registers, visit CheckWorks.com and check out our wide selection of personal checks and registers.

How to Successfully Manage a Joint Checking Account

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When you share a checking account with your spouse, it can be easy to lose track of the money you have, since you’re both writing checks. For instance, if your spouse goes out of town for a few days and writes a few checks, unless he/she keeps you informed, you might write just as many checks, leading to an overdrawn account. The personal checks offered by CheckWorks can help you avoid some of the confusion associated with a joint checking account.

Our personal checkbooks have various features, including duplicates of written checks and detailed registers. These two features, alone, can help you successfully manage a shared checking account. Both features allow easy record-keeping of checks written, no matter which one of you writes the check. At the end of the month, you will find that the duplicate checks and register will help you quickly and easily balance your checkbook.

Here are a few other tips for managing a shared checking account:

  • Communicate. If you write a check, let your spouse know, so that he/she can write the information in their checkbook register. Lack of communication is a recipe for a disaster.
  • Use the register the right way. Instead of jotting down a quick, abbreviated note in the register, take the time to write down the specifics for each purchase.
  • Be neat. You can be as detailed and precise in your register as possible — but if you can’t read the writing, it’s not going to do you any good. Be neat when recording information in your checkbook register, and you will avoid a headache later.
  • Compare your register with your monthly bank statement. It is important to compare the two each month, and balance them, to ensure that you and your bank have accurate records of your spending. If you find discrepancies, don’t hesitate to contact your bank. Our detailed registers and duplicate checks can help immensely in tracking down missing transactions.

The bottom line is that a joint checking account is a great resource for couple — but it needs to be managed wisely by both parties. Contact us today at CheckWorks to order your set of personal checks to help you stay on top of your joint checking account.

How the Right Checks Can Help Ease Your Tax Season Stress

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April 15th has come and gone — and you made the tax deadline by the skin of your teeth! Tax season is one of the most stressful times of the year for millions of people across the country. Every year, you promise to keep better business records — and every year, you fail. CheckWorks is here to help you keep stellar financial records this year with our wide selection of business checks.

You may not realize it, but the right checkbook can be a huge asset when it comes to record-keeping. Every time you write a check, you are creating a paper trail. When you use our business checkbooks that feature duplicates of each check, not only will you have the paper check circulating in the financial system until it comes back to you; you will also have a copy of each check as proof of payment.

Another way our business checks can help you keep detailed financial records is through the register. The register is that part of the checkbook where you write down the date, payee, and amount of each check — the part that you balance at the end of each month. Our detailed registers ensure that you always have the pertinent information for each check written. Used in conjunction with duplicate checks, and you have solid, written evidence of each and every check you write.

Between the duplicate checks and the registers, it should be easy to keep track of your business expenses for the year. Every time you pay a bill, every time you send a payment to a vendor, and every time you create payroll checks for your employees, you will have written records of each transaction. Come tax time of next year, and all you will need to do is gather your checkbooks and registers, turn them over to your accountant, and breathe easy for once.

If you are tired of sweating the IRS every time April rolls around, and you would like to get your financial records organized once and for all, contact CheckWorks today to learn more about our selection of business checks and registers to help you keep meticulous financial records.