don’t mess up your checking account

I started two things that Bank of America offered to “help me” with my banking (specifically tracking my account online and their Keep the Change program that takes spare change from debit purchases and puts it into savings) and my account has never been MORE out of control.  *sigh*

For one thing, the Keep the Change doesn’t send the change immediately to savings. Rather, it bulks it up and sends it in large chunks.  This wouldn’t be too bad except you can’t record your spending to the next dollar amount because then you’re trying to figure out, when it comes time to balance, which purchase *this* $40 truly reflects.  Also, combined with the online bank tracking, it was appearing that I had a certain amount and then WHAM a huge chunk was pulled out for the last 10 purchases.  This, combined with the other thing I didn’t realize, messed me up so terribly that for the last several months I had come to think I would need to just close my account and start over. That other thing is that the online tracking reflects all purchases and deposits UNLESS the paperwork doesn’t come in within 3 days from the purchase and then they add the amount back into your available balance!!!  So, while my account was messed up and I was trying to figure it out on a regular basis, I was never able to figure out how much I really had *smacks head*.

I have now done two important things. I put a stop to the Keep the Change program!  I’ve also finally figured out down to the bottom line how much I have and I will NOT use the online tracking anymore.  The only thing I intend to do online is conduct transfers between savings and checking.  Considering I did fine for YEARS with hardly bouncing a thing in any of my accounts, it is so discouraging to have my account so messed up that I couldn’t see straight.  By finally figuring it all out I must admit to a strong sense of accomplishment And a hope that I can better stay on top of things.  I don’t like so much energy going to our finances. It’s so easy to get distracted and stressed by it.  Someday I’d love to not live paycheck to paycheck and yet there have been so many blessings in daily bread living.  I am sure that God allowed me to go through this season of confusion in our finances to both increase my trust in Him, and to test all that I have learned over the last several years of struggles He has led us through.  I feel like figuring this mess out was our wall of Jericho being brought down by the Lord and now I am more confident in Him in this new land we are in (new season in our walk).

God is Good!