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.