With the "60% Solution, " you don't really need to track your expenses because your checking account balance should ideally be equal to the amount of money that you will spend each month.

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Checking your account balance before you make a purchase not only protects you from an overdraft situation, but it also gives you time to consider if the purchase is worth making.

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According to Goodwin, a customer's checking his bank balance is a great cross-selling lead (awaiting a year-end bonus, perhaps?), and cost-conscious banks that forward callers to outsourced operators may be missing the plot.

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Also, having a ten figure balance in a checking and savings account does not seem to be a good idea either.

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One way to avoid that risk is to set up your credit card on autopay to withdraw the balance from your checking account each month.

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More good news for bank consumers: since the January 2011 Bank Fee Survey, average minimum balance requirements to avoid fees are lower, and average monthly checking account maintenance fees (for those who pay them) are also slightly lower.

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Still more intrusive checking will be needed to give each side confidence that the other cannot suddenly disrupt this dwindling balance.

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