<title>Learn about entering transactions and downloading statements</title>
<category>accounts</category>
<klink type="cncpt">Tell me about entering transactions and downloading statements</klink>
</index>
<content>
<p>If you write all of your transactions in your checkbook register and keep your running balance, you don't necessarily need to enter transactions in Money's account register. If your financial institution allows you to download statements, simply accept the bank's record of your transactions as your Money record. Then, you can balance your manual records (in your checkbook register) against the electronic records and adjust the transactions and balances in Money if necessary.</p>
<p>If you do enter your transactions into Money between downloading statements, Money guards against duplication by showing you transactions that appear to match each time you download.</p>
<p>It is not recommended that you simply use information from your bank in your Money file (rather than keeping your own records) because you have no way of knowing if the bank's information is correct. Also, some financial institutions limit the number of statements you can download. Finally, you'll have the most up-to-date information on your cash flow, paid bills, and budget status if you track the information yourself.</p>
