Q:HOW ARE CREDIT (OR DEBIT) CHARGES RECORDED?

A: Each credit card transaction should be immediately recorded in your register. You can treat it as an OUTSTANDING check until it is paid, or set up a special column to reserve money for charges.

Q:HOW ARE CASH TRANSACTIONS RECORDED?

A: When cash is withdrawn from your account, subtract it from a specific category (or categories) based on your best ESTIMATE of how the cash will be spent. For example, if you withdraw $20 and intend to spend it on gas, subtract the amount from the "car expense" column. If your estimate is way off, you can adjust it later on a different line in your register. Please note that you should only withdraw cash from your account for a SPECIFIC purpose or according to your particular personal financial plan. Just having extra cash on you "to spend" tends to burn a hole in your pocket if no restrictions are set.

Q: WHAT IF TWO PEOPLE ARE USING THE SAME ACCOUNT?

A: It is simpler to use just ONE check register for each bank account, but sometimes it is necessary to use two registers at the same time. You will need to decide which way works best for you.

Q: WHAT IF I NEED MORE THAN 12 BUDGET CATEGORIES?

A: First, try to SIMPLIFY your financial plan to make it work with only one register. Combine similar types of categories together into one column with a more general heading. For example, instead of having a separate column for "electricity" and another for "water," combine them into one column using the heading "utilities." Remember that in each register, there is a checking register at the front and a SAVING register at the back. Each has twelve columns so there are a total of 24 columns. This is usually enough columns for the average individual. Use the savings register for special events such as vacation, Christmas, taxes, birthdays, life insurance, and other categories that you only use several times a year. You may use TWO registers for your financial plan. Your budget or financial plan is probably getting too complicated if you need more than this.

Q: WHAT IF A PURCHASE APPLIES TO MORE THAN ONE CATEGORY?

A: Record (subtract) the total amount of the check in the balance column of the check register like you normally would. Then subtract the amount for EACH type of purchase from the appropriate columns on the right-hand side. For example, Peter has a column for "food" and another for "entertainment" in his register. At the supermarket he purchases $15 worth of entertainment items and $25 worth of food. He pays with one check for $40. To record the transaction, Peter subtracts the total of the check ($40) from the balance of his checking account (column B on the left side). Then, on the same line, but in the columns on the right side, he subtracts $15 in the "entertainment" column and goes over and also subtracts $25 under the "food" column.

Q: WHAT IF I GO OVER IN ONE CATEGORY AND AM UNDER IN OTHERS?

A: First, you can make ADJUSTMENTS from one column to another by subtracting in the columns where there is an excess and adding the same amount back to the columns where there is a shortage. Second, you should review your financial plan to see if it needs to be changed -- if you are consistently off target every month, you may need to change your budget around a bit. Such adjustments are necessary and should be done periodically. A new financial plan may need to be adjusted every month for the first and second years it is in use. After this, it will still be necessary to periodically REVIEW and adjust your financial plan, but not as often.

Q: WHAT IF I ALREADY TRACK MY EXPENSES ON A COMPUTER?

A: A computer is great for accumulating and recording data. But often the information provided doesn't help you find out that you have blown your budget until the end of the month! You need something practical that will help you know -- in REAL TIME, as you make each transaction -- whether or not it fits into your financial plan. This register is a simple way to have that information handy at all times. It is an excellent aid to those who already record their finances on a computer.

Q: WHAT IF MY WIFE KEEPS ALL THE BOOKS FOR THE HOUSE?

A: This register can be especially helpful to married couples who record their finances on the computer. Typically, in such a situation, one of the spouses has the primary RESPONSIBILITY for keeping track of the finances. The spouse that does not have this responsibility usually does not know as much about the finances as the spouse who is the "computer whiz." By providing a register to the "uninformed" spouse, that spouse can then control his or her spending and make transactions according to the family's overall financial plan.