Live feed of bank account?

RockerC

Hey Guys

Well I am currently a student and have a horrible shortage of time during the week due to the volume of studying. I need a better way of watching what is coming in and out of my bank account as currently I cannot do this easily (with HSBC and have to log in with a stupid calculator type device).

Anyway, just wondering if there was an easy way to monitor what was coming in and out of my account such as a "live feed" type thing? There is no way I could possibly go to the bank each time or even to a cash machine as it is too time consuming and I need a better way to watch whats going on with my money in order to see I can actually make a purchase or not.

Thanks

Cee

ViolaLass

Write it down in a notebook? Do you really have that much coming in and out on a day-to-day basis?

opinions4u

Change to a bank with an app?

RockerC

Thanks for the replies. I thought I may get a comment about why not write it down. And now I will explain.

I make a lot of "small" purchases, which at times do not clear my account the same day or even week. I also have items which are debited because of subscriptions due to being a student and it being cheaper that way, and trying to keep track of all that is way too time consuming and messy for me as they are often unpredictable really, especially when youre waiting on stuff clearing your account once you pay for it. For some reason if I make an online purchase somewhere it can take a few days or even up to a week at times before something clears my account, and my bank doesnt even know I have spent that money until its cleared at times!

Crazy.. anyway thanks for the suggestions. I think I may just change banks because HSBC with that login calculator thing is a pain in the neck.

Cee

Macca83_2

How about two accounts? An account for bills which you can put in x amount a month to cover subscriptions, direct debits etc. Then a general spends account for the day to day stuff like groceries. Easier to keep track of that way.

the_insider

You have time to create a profile here and post but you can't find 5 minutes to log into your online banking every day?
Everyone's busy, you just have to prioritise!

Mulder00

HSBC's mobile app doesn't require the use of the calculator. (Except the first time that you set it up of course).

That doesn't sound like it will sort out your problem of not actually seeing what's been spent, as if it hasn't cleared from your account, you won't see it anywhere until it has.

You are going to have learn to manage your money even with the amount of studying you have to do. It sounds more like an issue with planning, managing and budgeting your finances rather than a time issue.

camperdown9

Hi

Its a long time since I was a student, but this works for me.

I have an excel doc and I recored everything on it. The headings I use are:

conf date item credit debt bal

At the start of the month I know that I get money in on the 1st so I add that as a credit.

I know that:

Vodafone will take £15 on the 15th
the car insurance £50 will go out on the 20th
the pet insurance £10 on the 19th etc.

I add those as debits at the start of the month rather than wait on them going out. So at the very start of the month I have an excel doc that shows me how much "real" money I have to spend after the bills have been paid.

Then every time I used my debit card, as soon as I can I add the debit to the excel doc. I try not to use cash as I find that if I take £20 out of the bank to pay for something worth a fiver then that £20 is gone.

Then once a day I check via online banking whats happening with regards to my account. As something gets taken or money paid into the account I put a "x" in the conf column. Barclays, Natwest. Lloyds, First Direct, Halifax, Nationwide & Santander all have apps for iOS and maybe Android that let you access your online banking without the need for a safe key card reader type thing. Checking whats happening with your bank account via an app takes seconds and can be done anywhere.

The problem with just checking your mini statement, balance or looking at online banking is that it only gives half the story.

As I said at the start this works for me, but everyone is different.

Good luck

Alex

Stompa

RockerC wrote: »

I make a lot of "small" purchases, which at times do not clear my account the same day or even week.

Use cash or a credit card?

Icesaver

I agree with Camperdown9, just take your known monthly income and subtract your known monthly outgoings, and discipline yourself to write down how much you remove from your account on an ongoing basis. A notebook would be adequate for this but you have to be disciplined in keeping accurate records (which will help you check your statements....you do check your statements I hope mistakes do get made!).
I'm with firstdirect and they text me every Monday with my balance , HSBC have the same service, would a weekly text be any use to you? They can also text you if your balance falls below a certain level http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/PA_esf-ca-app-content/content/pws/content/personal/pdfs/text-banking-user-guide.pdf

[Deleted User]

When I was a student, I always knew to the exact penny how much money I had. Often because I rarely had two of them to rub together.

Had to anyway, because banks opened at 9.30am and closed at 3.30pm Monday to Friday only. There was no other way to find out the balance if needed, not with the old bog roll style cash machines at the time.

Students of today, eh?
If they can't find the information they need, when they need it, on their smart phone or tablet, they seem to be completely bamboozled.

Anyway, if you want access to your balance via your magic matchbox, without the need for another magic matchbox to grant you the required access to that information, transfer your account to Lloyds (or TSB)