Remember those days when you were in kindergarten and learned all those life lessons that get you through life such as saying please and thank you, share your pudding with someone who had carrot sticks at lunch and that naps are good things? These are golden rules to live a successful life…or so we were taught.
Well, there was another golden rule left out of the kindergarten handbook because, honestly, four and five year olds don’t quite understand money.
As many of us learned in high school, college, or even through the teaching of life itself, there’s nothing like a balanced checkbook to make life easier. It is a great way to keep track of your money with how it ebbs and flows in your account. It’s not the most exciting thing in the world to do, much like cleaning your house and office space, but it’s something that should be done often and routinely.
Besides, there’s such a great feeling of satisfaction seeing a dust free, freshly vacuumed, and clean smelling room that you accomplished yourself. Likewise, checking to make sure your account gets balanced provides a similar feeling. Tracking your funds helps you keep a cautious eye on what is yours, where it goes, and helps prevent potential identity theft.
You may also be able to find money! How so? Do you keep up with all the auto debits coming out of your account? Are you even going to the gym anymore? Is it worth the $10 a month deduction? If you realize you have auto debits for services or subscriptions you no longer use, cancel them and VIOLA! Found money!
So add one more golden rule to live by in your handbook or make yourself a phrase like Jefferson did with that whole ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ thing: Balanced books keeps away the crooks!
Happy balancing! May the odds be ever in your favor!
