<title>Learn what amount to use for an opening balance</title>
<category>accounts</category>
<klink type="cncpt">Tell me what amount to use for an opening balance</klink>
</index>
<content>
<p>The amount you enter for your opening balance depends on when you want to start tracking your transactions in Money.</p>
<ul>
<li>If you want to start tracking transactions from a prior date, such as the beginning of the year, find the last statement before your starting date and use the beginning balance from the statement. You can then enter all the transactions that cleared the bank or occurred after that date.</li>
<li>If you want to start tracking transactions as of today, you need to find the amount of available funds in your account. You can find this amount by contacting your bank and adjusting the bank's balance by any withdrawals or deposits that have not cleared, or by balancing your account by hand. If other transactions clear your bank later that you were not aware of when you entered your opening balance, you may need to adjust your opening balance or add the transactions to your register.</li>
