Dollars & Sense
A Mom's Guide to Money Matters
By Cynthia Sumner

Gone are the days when women left all money matters to the man of the family. Still, family finances continue to mystify many moms.

Dollars & Sense is a practical, easy-to-understand guide that will help moms discuss and handle finances more effectively. Author Cynthia Sumner discusses a wide range of moms' financial concerns, from the big issues like how to save money, set goals, and teach kids responsible money habits to the nitpicky mechanics of managing bank accounts and establishing credit. No matter what their financial situation, moms everywhere will find these specific suggestions and practical tips invaluable as they learn how to regain or improve their family finances.

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Excerpt from Dollars & Sense

Balancing Your Checkbook
The first step to getting control is finding out where you are financially right now, and that means doing something approximately half of us don't do — balancing your checkbook. Keeping up with the amount of money in your checking account serves two main purposes:

1. Holding your spending in check by showing how much money you have (or don't have).
2. Saving on bank fees from overdrafts or too-low account balances.

If you have never balanced your checkbook before, dealing with all those numbers can seem scary. It may help to remember that you deal with numbers every day: scoops of formula and ounces of water, price per pound of meat at the grocery, and amounts of ingredients for a recipe. In fact, balancing your checkbook can be just like following a recipe. Knowing how much money you have available is the first step in making good choices about how much you spend.