C’mon, Elly, you can’t do some simple addition and subtraction? Go ask Michael - I know my second grader could do that. And isn’t it “our” checkbook, not “my”?? Isn’t it both of your money. Now if you had asked him to change a tire, lift up something heavy or whatever else he physically can do better, I would have thought this was funnier.
Some people have difficulty balancing a check book. I’m a college graduate, taught school, worked in quality assurance where I did monthly statistical reports and have done data collection, but I STILL have trouble balancing my check book. Thank God for online balance information!! :>))
Stereotype? What stereotype? The only problem these days with balancing a checkbook is ATM (Another Twenty Missing). Electronic banking combined with physical entries make it a breeze.
My son had a teacher in High School (Retired Air Force Colonel, no less) who could NOT balance a check book. He told me that he opens a new account with a different bank every six months and lets time take care of the old one.
I swear that there are things that should be taught in Jr. High at the latest, balancing a checkbook is amongst them. It is a vital life skill and leads to successful handling of money. Perhaps the Pedagogues would care to dispute?
She can’t add or subtract? Come on! She went on for a week about saving HIS money on a can opener, yet she has no mental capacity to reconcile how much money is in the checking account?
He should remind her of this every day when she complains about what an intellectual she thinks she is, and how she’s wasting her life and wants to be back in college instead.
In the recent batch of strips, she does however seem a little happier than we know she becomes very shortly.
On another note, why does she have her own separate account? So he can control what she is allowed to spend of HIS money!
Right now I, personally, have four checking accounts. I need them because I have to separate household expenses, business, rental income and expenses and another one just for me and my personal needs. OK, it’s a lot but it is far easier to keep my expenses separated as far as the IRS returns go. When my husband was alive he also had a checking account.
As of now, I get my brother, formerly, before retirement a vice president of a bank and really comfortable with checkbooks , to balance my statements.
So I can totally see why Ellie has “her” checkbook…..and if she is like me, why she may occasionally need a bit of help with it.
I remember my Dad wanting to teach my Mom how to reconcile a checkbook. She replied that she didn’t need to learn, that she had 5 kids. Mom never did learn to reconcile a checkbook to the day she died. (She passed away last October.) However, after that “conversation” between the two of them, Dad made sure to get me the legal authority to handle things after he was gone or incapacitated. (Dad ended up dying several years before Mom.)
My husband and I each have our own checking accounts – something I insisted on from day one 21 years ago when we got married. That way, I wouldn’t feel like I had to keep track of every cent I put into a joint account to make sure I wasn’t spending over that amount. My husband thought I was being ridiculous but went along with it anyhow because he understood how important it was to me. (I can buy my own shampoo, make-up, clothes, shoes, books and cross stitch, thank you very much!!!!!). However, we both still contribute financially to running the household; separate accounts have never interfered with that.
Btw: I married pretty young (I had just turned 20 years old 9 days before the wedding) and because neither one of my parents had a bank account at the time and couldn’t teach me those skills themselves, my husband had to show me how to balance my checkbook and reconcile my monthly bank statements … and I’ve been doing it myself ever since.
Teresa you sound like a perfect example of a child who lived up to the expectations of others (sadly). it’s one of the reason i have always spoken to children as if they were people rather than some sort of non-entity.
Teresa, it was the opposite at my house. MY brother told me girls are better at Math and wondered why I was not so astute at the subject.
When I discovered music I became better at Math, they balance each other perfectly.
tim_1975 over 13 years ago
maybe with a foot massage as well? lol
lightenup Premium Member over 13 years ago
C’mon, Elly, you can’t do some simple addition and subtraction? Go ask Michael - I know my second grader could do that. And isn’t it “our” checkbook, not “my”?? Isn’t it both of your money. Now if you had asked him to change a tire, lift up something heavy or whatever else he physically can do better, I would have thought this was funnier.
ThatCat61 over 13 years ago
A lot of people (for reasons unbeknownst to me) have separate bank accounts, so it really could be “her” checkbook.
Donna White over 13 years ago
@lightenup
Some people have difficulty balancing a check book. I’m a college graduate, taught school, worked in quality assurance where I did monthly statistical reports and have done data collection, but I STILL have trouble balancing my check book. Thank God for online balance information!! :>))
Plods with ...™ over 13 years ago
On its edge, corner or spine?
lewisbower over 13 years ago
Stereotype? What stereotype? The only problem these days with balancing a checkbook is ATM (Another Twenty Missing). Electronic banking combined with physical entries make it a breeze.
summerdog86 over 13 years ago
REAL WOMEN balance their own check books. They don’t need no stinking help.
Sugie63 over 13 years ago
Right on summerdog. My husband wouldn’t know what to do with a check book HA
JanLC over 13 years ago
My son had a teacher in High School (Retired Air Force Colonel, no less) who could NOT balance a check book. He told me that he opens a new account with a different bank every six months and lets time take care of the old one.
ses1066 over 13 years ago
I swear that there are things that should be taught in Jr. High at the latest, balancing a checkbook is amongst them. It is a vital life skill and leads to successful handling of money. Perhaps the Pedagogues would care to dispute?
coffeeturtle over 13 years ago
what a guy won’t do for coffee! LOL!
mrslukeskywalker over 13 years ago
She can’t add or subtract? Come on! She went on for a week about saving HIS money on a can opener, yet she has no mental capacity to reconcile how much money is in the checking account?
He should remind her of this every day when she complains about what an intellectual she thinks she is, and how she’s wasting her life and wants to be back in college instead.
In the recent batch of strips, she does however seem a little happier than we know she becomes very shortly.
On another note, why does she have her own separate account? So he can control what she is allowed to spend of HIS money!
No way I’d live like that!
ImaPlugger2 over 13 years ago
No chance of that happening here. You think I want HIM knowing what I spent money on during the month?
flong2934 over 13 years ago
Right now I, personally, have four checking accounts. I need them because I have to separate household expenses, business, rental income and expenses and another one just for me and my personal needs. OK, it’s a lot but it is far easier to keep my expenses separated as far as the IRS returns go. When my husband was alive he also had a checking account.
As of now, I get my brother, formerly, before retirement a vice president of a bank and really comfortable with checkbooks , to balance my statements.
So I can totally see why Ellie has “her” checkbook…..and if she is like me, why she may occasionally need a bit of help with it.
purplesting over 13 years ago
Elly needs to do far more than that. Jon has an annoying look on his face.
WebSpider over 13 years ago
Don’t worry, John. Online backing is only about 30 years away… LOL
Smiley Rmom over 13 years ago
I remember my Dad wanting to teach my Mom how to reconcile a checkbook. She replied that she didn’t need to learn, that she had 5 kids. Mom never did learn to reconcile a checkbook to the day she died. (She passed away last October.) However, after that “conversation” between the two of them, Dad made sure to get me the legal authority to handle things after he was gone or incapacitated. (Dad ended up dying several years before Mom.)
NashvilleMac over 13 years ago
Simple Dad logic at work here. If they’re treating you nice, might as well find out up front what it is they want yo to pay for or work on.
Gretchen's Mom over 13 years ago
My husband and I each have our own checking accounts – something I insisted on from day one 21 years ago when we got married. That way, I wouldn’t feel like I had to keep track of every cent I put into a joint account to make sure I wasn’t spending over that amount. My husband thought I was being ridiculous but went along with it anyhow because he understood how important it was to me. (I can buy my own shampoo, make-up, clothes, shoes, books and cross stitch, thank you very much!!!!!). However, we both still contribute financially to running the household; separate accounts have never interfered with that.
Btw: I married pretty young (I had just turned 20 years old 9 days before the wedding) and because neither one of my parents had a bank account at the time and couldn’t teach me those skills themselves, my husband had to show me how to balance my checkbook and reconcile my monthly bank statements … and I’ve been doing it myself ever since.
kjc7823 over 13 years ago
What’s a checkbook?
yyyguy over 13 years ago
Teresa you sound like a perfect example of a child who lived up to the expectations of others (sadly). it’s one of the reason i have always spoken to children as if they were people rather than some sort of non-entity.
Rockingwoman over 13 years ago
Teresa, it was the opposite at my house. MY brother told me girls are better at Math and wondered why I was not so astute at the subject. When I discovered music I became better at Math, they balance each other perfectly.