subject: A Checkbook Register And Checking Software For Practicing Financial Independence [print this page] Something that all young people learn upon leaving for college or perhaps post-high school work away from home is how to manage money right, an endeavour that causes quite a bit of learning pains. Accompanying this rite of passage is the important lesson that things do not get better if learning money management gets put off constantly. To ease the transition into financial independence, young people are learning to turn to using checkbook software and recording in the checkbook register.
A checkbook register or a transaction register is a ledger or register used for recording transactions involving a bank account. Unlike the monthly statement, the register keeps track of money coming in and going out at all times. Monthly statements are useful but become immediately outdated upon the occurrence of the first transaction. In addition, mistakes in the monthly statement can only be caught through diligence and record keeping with another tool.
For those who like an extra layer of organization, checkbook software may provide the right kind of detail and consistency. All records are kept in a computer database and presented in a manner that is very easy to see. The data can be carried around on a portable drive so all financial information is accessible as long as there is a computer nearby. Different levels of sophistication are available from simple record keeping to tax calculating tools.
The cost of cell phone bills can be tracked by checking software. Supposing your mobile phone plan is an old-fashioned one, it could be costing you money unnecessarily so check out new plans to get a better deal. You can compare your cell phone plan with others that might be offered to you by locating a good money management online place, entering your mobile phone plan info, then seeking comparisons. A useful site offers a index of phone plans that are available in your area and will work with what you need.
Buying expensive household machines should be recorded for return and warranty purposes. In the event that you buy a sizable appliance, it may drain your budget when you buy it, then continue to drain your budget when you run it. Good consumer website inform the consumer to double check energy requirements and the energy star rating of any appliance under consideration for purchase. Consumers might save a lot of money throughout the course of a year.
Finally, monthly expenses like health insurance can be entered into checkbook software entries. You may be able to get lower insurance rates if your job falls into a low risk category and is determined to be safer than most. If you are a person who works a "low-risk" job (ex: accountant, teacher) you may be able to get reduced health insurance rates. Taking advantage of reduced cost prescriptions at places can help. Despite these actions it is likely that the monthly health costs will be challenging to your budget.
