Help yourself avoid overdraft fees by understanding checking.
While there is a lot of attention put on people who get into financial trouble based on the amount of money that they charge to their credit cards, that is not the only problem that people commonly have. For instance, checking accounts can cause trouble as well, especially if you do not know how checking works. Therefore, before you start using your checking account frequently, you should find out exactly how your checking account works.
Your checking account is just another bank account, though it is usually not the same or attached to your savings account. Many people find it worthwhile to have both a savings account and a checking account. The reason for this is that you get interest on your savings in the savings account – while in a checking account, you have more freedom with when and how you withdraw your money.
When you write a check, it is true that the money will not be taken out of your account immediately. However, trying to beat the system and writing checks before you have money deposited into your account is a good way to get into trouble with bounced checks. This is...