Available Balance Myths!

opinions4u

We are a nation of incompetents who think everybody should do everything for them.

Wilkins

The lengths some people will go to in order to avoid having to do arithmetic is amazing.

pmduk

scgf wrote: »

Difficult on paper to have the two balances at your disposal the cleared balance you can compare with what the bank says you have and your actual balance.

On paper for everyday purposes, the only figure to worry about is the available balance.

System

Wilkins wrote: »

The lengths some people will go to in order to avoid having to do arithmetic is amazing.

I feel like that about cave painting too.

Reckoner99

It's not a case of us expecting someone else to do everything for us and also not a case of doing everything possible to avoid arithmetic?? Are you serious?

If that were the case I would be suggest non of us check ours accounts until it stops us taking out money then find we are well over our overdraft and suggest we kick off at the bank for allowing us to go over. Now that would be stupid.

However I'm talking about times and people who check their acct regulary.

Why isn't it possible to see a figure that accurately reflects what money is left in there? With all this technology and modern advances we still have bank accts that when we check online we can't be confident they are accurate.

I guess we might as well just take out cash and pay with that. That way it'll be accurately updated.

And if you do think using a bit of paper is the best way how do you know which refference point is accurate? Because unless you have a week of inactivity on your current acct you can't rely on only time you view your acct to take a ref that that being accurate as a start point before you start using your pen and paper.

Not all of us are retired and normally use our accts most days for everything involved in running a young family. It would be nice for that when I'm trying to budget and I log on online that the available balance presented to me was accurate. That's all

JuicyJesus

Reckoner99 wrote: »

Why isn't it possible to see a figure that accurately reflects what money is left in there? With all this technology and modern advances we still have bank accts that when we check online we can't be confident they are accurate.

This has been answered - offline debit cards cannot affect the available balance, or any other balance, by their nature.

If you want your available balance to always be up to date, get a basic bank account.

meer53

Reckoner99 wrote: »

.

Not all of us are retired and normally use our accts most days for everything involved in running a young family. It would be nice for that when I'm trying to budget and I log on online that the available balance presented to me was accurate. That's all

Who said anyone was retired ?

I work full time and have 2 children. I'm a single parent.

The only way to keep an accurate balance is to start with your balance, deduct all your standing orders and direct debits, then make a note every time you use your card to pay for anything. Keep a running total and you'll always know how much money you have. I know on a daily basis how much money i have, i use internet and phone banking. I work for a bank.

It's not rocket science. I don't understand people who claim to not have the time to do these things. You have to make time if you don't want to be stung with charges. I'd rather rely on myself than a phone or computer. I'm much more reliable.

opinions4u

Reckoner99 wrote: »

If that were the case I would be suggest non of us check ours accounts until it stops us taking out money then find we are well over our overdraft and suggest we kick off at the bank for allowing us to go over. Now that would be stupid.

Read these boards some more. The examples of stupidity are many.

Why isn't it possible to see a figure that accurately reflects what money is left in there? With all this technology and modern advances we still have bank accts that when we check online we can't be confident they are accurate.

Clear answers given.

I guess we might as well just take out cash and pay with that. That way it'll be accurately updated.

If you can't cope, this is an option.

And if you do think using a bit of paper is the best way how do you know which refference point is accurate? Because unless you have a week of inactivity on your current acct you can't rely on only time you view your acct to take a ref that that being accurate as a start point before you start using your pen and paper.

When you get back from holiday? Seriously, I think you are over-complicating this.

Not all of us are retired and normally use our accts most days for everything involved in running a young family.

I'm nowhere near retired. I've coped with a young family. It can be harder with an older family. Still coping though.

It would be nice for that when I'm trying to budget and I log on online that the available balance presented to me was accurate. That's all

A credit card may help you, but some of the same issues apply. The basic bank account alternative may be suitable for you.

Wilkins

scgf wrote: »

I feel like that about cave painting too.

Whatever works for you. For me, an Upper Paleolithic style reliance on external representations of the world, whether it be through cave paintings or smartphones, is not necessary to understand the transactions of daily life and would be somewhat of an encumbrance.

Wilkins

Reckoner99 wrote: »

It's not a case of us expecting someone else to do everything for us and also not a case of doing everything possible to avoid arithmetic?? Are you serious?

Not if I can help it.

If that were the case I would be suggest non of us check ours accounts until it stops us taking out money then find we are well over our overdraft and suggest we kick off at the bank for allowing us to go over. Now that would be stupid.

Indeed.

However I'm talking about times and people who check their acct regulary.

Always good to do.

Why isn't it possible to see a figure that accurately reflects what money is left in there? With all this technology and modern advances we still have bank accts that when we check online we can't be confident they are accurate.

Because people and systems don't always behave in the way you want.

I guess we might as well just take out cash and pay with that. That way it'll be accurately updated.

Er, yes. A pretty useful method in fact.

And if you do think using a bit of paper is the best way how do you know which refference point is accurate? Because unless you have a week of inactivity on your current acct you can't rely on only time you view your acct to take a ref that that being accurate as a start point before you start using your pen and paper.

Are you serious?

Not all of us are retired and normally use our accts most days for everything involved in running a young family. It would be nice for that when I'm trying to budget and I log on online that the available balance presented to me was accurate. That's all

I, too, want world peace.