It seems to me that I mainly get people with some solid financial experience on here, and because of this I’m guessing most people who post here will answer: “I opened my account on (date) and currently it has a balance of (amount) but when all my outstanding checks clear it really has a balance of (smaller amount)”

Then there’s the other people, I see them at work, rushing in frantically with a wad of bills saying, “is this enough to cover the checks I’ve written?”

If you’re like the top person, congratulations, you won’t have too much to worry about financially, ever.  If you’re like the other people, then you need to find a happy medium, and the faster the better.

Here’s 5 easy ways to know your account better.

1. Online Banking- Get set up with it, if you can read this page you should bank online.  With the detailed encryption that most financials use now, the biggest risk is not from hackers, but from people tricking you into giving out account information.  The advantage to online banking is you have 24/7/365 access to your accounts.  You can transfer money, balance your checkbook, and pay off credit card debt all from home in your pajamas.
2. Checkbook Registers- Anything you put into or take out of your account should go in your register.  Any halfway decent bank will give them out for free, just ask.
3. Utilize your Teller-  Your teller has access to lots of key info, like if certain checks have cleared your account, or tips to avoid credit card debt.  The nicer you are to a teller, the better the chance that they remember you, and as a result won’t make as many errors.  Also, many times fee refunds are up to the teller’s discretion, and if you ticked them off in the past, they won’t mention that they can do it.
4. Befriend the Branch Manager-  This individual is the one you chew out.  They have the power to completely override certain things, or get you promotional deals, the tellers can’t do this, so complain to the Branch Manager when you’re not getting free stuff.
5. Set goal amounts for each account-  My online banking will notify me when my account has reached a certain balance.  Each time I meet a goal I get a reward (usually very small and cheap).  This gives me an active interest in where my accounts are.