How to Manage Your

Checking Account
CHAPTER 8, LESSON 3

NAME DATE

DIRECTIONS
Review the sample check below as well as the following steps to properly fill out a check. Then use the blank
checks provided to practice writing a check.

Part One
Bank Name and Name and Address
Branch Location of Account Holder

1 3/10/21
2Shady Acres 3 108.34
4 One Hundred Eight Dollars and 34/100
1
5 plants 6 I Am S tudent

9 Digit ABA Account Check

(Routing) Number Number Number

1 Date: the month, day, and year

2 Pay to the Order of: the person or business you’re writing the check to
3 Amount Box: the amount of the check in numbers
4 Amount Line: the amount of the check written out
5 For (or Memo): the description of what’s being paid for, such as an account number,
“cable bill,” “electric bill,” “groceries,” etc. (this is optional)
6 Signature: the signature of the account holder as listed at the top of the check

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 How to Manage Your Checking Account
CHAPTER 8, LESSON 3

Fill out three sample checks for the following transactions:

1. On March 12, you enjoyed two delicious pieces of pepperoni pizza, a lemonade, and a
cinnamon twist at A Slice of Life and spent $22.46.

3/12/24

A Slice of Life 22.46

Twenty Two Dollars and 46/100 ---------------------------------------------------

Pizza lunch I am student

2. You‘ve had your own car for five months now and love it. You paid your monthly auto
insurance bill of $97.25 to Protection Plus on March 16.

3/16/24

Protection Plus 97.25

Ninety Seven Dollars and 25/100 --------------------------------------------------

Auto Insurance I am student

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 How to Manage Your Checking Account
CHAPTER 8, LESSON 3

3. On March 25, you paid your phone bill of $67.50 to Gazelle Cell. The amount includes
paying for extra streaming services you used over your limit.

3/25/24

Gazelle Cell 67.50

Sixty Seven Dollars and 50/100 -----------------------------------------------------

Phone and Streaming I am student

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 How to Manage Your Checking Account
CHAPTER 8, LESSON 3

DIRECTIONS
Read and review the components of a checking account register. Then, use the information on the next page
to fill in the checking account register.

Part Two
It’s nearly impossible to stick to your budget if you don’t track your spending. Plus, if you
don’t have enough money in your account to cover a check you wrote, the bank will return it
to you and you’ll have to pay a penalty for your bounced check, called a non-sufficient funds
fee. You’ll also have to deal with the hassle and embarrassment of resending the check.

Avoid all that trouble by making a record in your register whenever you:
• Write a check • Have a bank fee
• Use your debit card • Withdraw money
• Make a deposit • Have money refunded to your account

* Note: At the end of every month, reconcile (compare for accuracy) your written account
record with your bank statement (either print or online version).

Sample Checking Account Register

NUMBER TRANSACTION PAYMENT DEPOSIT MONEY

DATE
OR CODE DESCRIPTION AMOUNT AMOUNT BALANCE

1 340 2 3/10/21 3 Shady Acres / plants $108.34 $478

1 Number or Code: If you’ve written a check, write the check number here (found in the
upper-right corner of your check). If you have another type of transaction, use a code:
DC for Debit Card, ATM for cash withdrawal, T for transfer, D for deposit, etc.

2 Date: Always record the date of each transaction.

3 Transaction Description: Make a quick note about the transaction so you can remember
what it was for when you reconcile your account. Tracking your purchases will also help
you budget better next month. Practice filling out a register using the instructions below.

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 How to Manage Your Checking Account
CHAPTER 8, LESSON 3

NUMBER TRANSACTION PAYMENT DEPOSIT MONEY

DATE
OR CODE DESCRIPTION AMOUNT AMOUNT BALANCE

Begining Balance $478

341 3/12/24 Pizza $22.46 $455.54

3/14/24 New jeans $56.23 $399.31

3/15/24 Paycheck $288 $687.31

342 3/16/24 Auto Insurance 97.25 $590.06

3/19/24 Football Game ATM $20 $570.06

3/19/24 ATM Fee $2 $568.06

343 3/25/24 Cell Phone $67.50 $500.56

1. Type “Beginning Balance” in the first transaction box and “$478” in the first Money
Balance box.

2. In order of date, fill out the account register for the following transactions, updating
the balance of your account after each transaction. Don’t forget to record the check
numbers from Part One of this activity.
» A Slice of Life, pizza, $22.46, 3/12/Year
» Protection Plus, auto insurance, $97.25, 3/16/Year
» Gazelle Cell, cell phone, $67.50, 3/25/Year
» Debit Card, The Pants Shop, new jeans, $56.23, 3/14/Year
» Withdrawal, football game admission and concession, $20, 3/19/Year
» ATM fee, $2, 3/19/Year
» Deposit, paycheck, $288, 3/15/Year

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