No one actually wants to overdraw a checking account, but it's easy to lose track of spending between debit cards, charges, checks and online payments. Banks and credit unions also put a hold on some checking account deposit funds. The balance of a personal checking account has to be monitored closely and carefully tracked to avoid overdrafts. Overdrawing funds is no problem since the checking account balance may be several dollars over or under the amount you expect from day to day.

Instructions:

1 )Avoid checking the account balance. Using an ATM, online checking account access or telephone banking option to check the balance for available funds before making transactions could prevent an overdraft.

2 )Ignore all outstanding checks. The posted balance on your checking account will not reflect checks that have yet to be drawn out by the recipients. An outstanding check for $125 reduces an available $200 balance down to $75. Draw out more than $75, and your checking account will be overdrawn as soon as the check reaches the bank.


3 )Neglect the amount of charges made with a debit card linked to a personal checking account. Charges are often deducted from the account several days after a purchase is made. Fail to subtract charge amounts, like outstanding checks, and the available balance is lower than the bank reflects.

4 )Stick your debit card into a gas pump without asking the clerk how the oil company charges cards. Gas stations charge your checking account anywhere from $1 to $75 on the day you pump and then deduct the actual amount of your purchase days later.

5 )Deposit checks without considering how the bank or credit union makes those funds available. The full amount of your checking account deposit may not be yours to spend for a number of days.