[Cerek]

Originally Posted by SpiritWarrior So you still have your own self-made paper-trail from say, a soda you purchased this time last year at a store when you were thirsty? Or let's say if you needed milk for a baby at 4am while half asleep and had to run out in the middle of the night, you have all these documented and retained?

I don't keep a record of cash transactions unless it's an item I might have to return (like a shirt, pair of shoes, DVD, etc). In that case, I WILL make sure I get a receipt for the purchase and keep the receipt until I know the item will work for me. Trivial purchases made with cash (the coke at the store or the milk at 4am), I do NOT write down, because I can look in my wallet to see how much money I have left.

So perhaps I should clarify that I write down all non-cash transactions, because whether I write a check or use my debit card, the funds come from the same account and I want to make sure I don't "spend" more than I have left. With cash, I can't spend more than I have left, so I don't need to record every transaction.

However, I DO have ALL the receipts for almost every purchase I've made (especially regarding the boys) since my divorce 4 years ago. I keep them in envelopes for each month.

Originally Posted by SpiritWarrior But, see, that's what I'm saying. You are one of those people I mentioned earlier, who use chequebooks at the supermarket, writing the whole thing down as you do so and likely holding up the line as I tap my feet in frustration because I am ready to swipe my card and get out of the endless crowds ASAP. This old woman I saw recently was meticulously documenting her finances at the till, as five of us queued behind her and sighed in unison. I thought "Shit, why did I have to pick this line?". She was the only one there when I arrived, yet by the time she had finished another 5 other people at the cashout next to me had already gone through and were in their cars. But, given the above example I just mentioned with the old lady, you can clearly see it is NOT practical. Don't get me wrong, it is not her fault. And btw it's is not your fault. Hell, you will both have a better handle on your money than most people, because you take the time to do so. You also say you don't care if the cashier gives you dirty looks, and I am assuming that extends to whether the people behind you do. And, I agree with you, I think you are right to not care because I wouldn't either. But doesn't it suck that the very nature of banking and stores etc. are based around such a fast pace? You have to come off as annoying to others in order to keep a handle on your cash. Or, in worst cases, assert yourself just because you don't want to lose count of where your money is going? So I disagree on the fact that saying it isn't practical is an excuse. It is not practical. It may be cautious. It may be wise. But it ain't practical given the world we live in now. And again, it ain't your fault a better way cannot be achieved. Overall, what I am bitching about is if I trust these people with my money, as so many millions do, why should I always be second guessing them and keeping my own tabs on it to the penny? I'm not being naive. I know I must do the best I can - and from the sounds of it you take more time on it than I do, but again...doesn't it just suck that we have to be so vigilant to the point where our methods delay us and rub people the wrong way?

We just have a different perspective on this. Just because our society tries to IMPLY it isn't practical doesn't mean it isn't. I noticed commercials several years ago using the same basic logic you're describing, showing a line of people *sighing* in frustration as the person in front of them used cash (which means the cashier actually has to make change) or a check (which means the person has to record the transaction in their checkbook). VISA did a series of commercials where everything is flowing smoothly and rapidly until that one person does NOT use their debit card and literally (in the ad) brings everything to a screeching halt. The person then has to endure the glares the cashier and other customers as the process creeeeeeeeps along, until the next person (thankfully) gets things back on track by taking out their debit card and getting everything moving again.

Sorry, but the implied guilt-trip mentality simply does not work on me. As you said, it is NOT my fault you are in a hurry to get somewhere else. If you're in that big of a hurry, you should have left the house sooner. I'm not going to risk forgetting to write a transaction down (and possible incur fees from my bank) because the people in line are too impatient to wait the 20-30 seconds it takes for me to do that.

It may seem callous, but your frustration is NOT my problem. ("you" meaning other customers in general, not you specifically)

Does it suck that I have to be so vigilant about how much money I have in the bank? No. It's MY responsibility to keep up with it. After all, nobody is going to care how much money I have left NEARLY as much as I will.

Several years ago, I discovered my insurance company had mistakenly charged an accident to my policy that I never had and I had been paying increased premiums for almost 3 years because of it. I didn't notice it earlier because I HAD gotten several traffic tickets in a two-year span that also increased my premium, so I thought it was because of the tickets.

When I discovered the mistake, I had to go back myself to provide "proof" I never had the accident being charged against me. This was before the internet, so it took some legwork and a number of phone calls, but I DID provide the documentation and received a retroactive refund for the full amount I had overpaid. (actually, they just applied the resulting credit against my next premium payment, but it was the same thing).

I understand how busy life can get and, despite my diligence, I DO forget to write down a check every now and then. Therefore, I always use carbon checks so I have a copy in hand, just in case.