turn on suggestions
Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type.
LOL! @ StartingOver 
It seems complex but there is nothing new under Sun, meaning that the same things are clearing every month and I use my credit cards for almost everything so basically the full amount of my paychecks are always sitting in Checking. I transfer a small amount over to savings every week so the chance for a bounced check is pretty small.
When I get ready to fire off a round of bills to my credit card, etc. I do a quick tally of the minuses and say that is my ending balance for the week and I plop that number into my head (I am an Engineer so I am really good with numbers). I don't keep a spreadsheet projected 6 months in the future, no. I used to and it got me in trouble so now I exercise my brain and I always underestimate how much money I have. My checking account gets low about once a month, and when it is low, I rundown memory lane to see if anything is scheduled to clear and if yes, if I need savings to cover it, I pull it over. If not, I just keep a close eye on it and it works like a charm.
Do I recommend my method, no. It is always better to know where you stand to the penny. For me, the behavior of watching my accounts and paying the same ole bills has built an internal rhythm and that rhythm is memorized. :-)
It seems complex but there is nothing new under Sun, meaning that the same things are clearing every month and I use my credit cards for almost everything so basically the full amount of my paychecks are always sitting in Checking. I transfer a small amount over to savings every week so the chance for a bounced check is pretty small.
When I get ready to fire off a round of bills to my credit card, etc. I do a quick tally of the minuses and say that is my ending balance for the week and I plop that number into my head (I am an Engineer so I am really good with numbers). I don't keep a spreadsheet projected 6 months in the future, no. I used to and it got me in trouble so now I exercise my brain and I always underestimate how much money I have. My checking account gets low about once a month, and when it is low, I rundown memory lane to see if anything is scheduled to clear and if yes, if I need savings to cover it, I pull it over. If not, I just keep a close eye on it and it works like a charm.
Do I recommend my method, no. It is always better to know where you stand to the penny. For me, the behavior of watching my accounts and paying the same ole bills has built an internal rhythm and that rhythm is memorized. :-)
Cards: Orchard Bank ($1100) | Cap1 Cash Rewards ($2500) | Chase Freedom ($1000) | Best Buy ($2500) | Discover It ($1000) | Barclay Rewards ($2500) | Current scores: EX FAKO: 684, CK TU: 649, FICO EQ: 680, FICO TU: 698, FICO EX: 658 Happy Homeowner Since 2/6/13!
I also agree with what tooleman said. I have a ton of cash floating between checking and savings as I get about $1300 a week deposited in my checking account from my job and with everything going to credit card, I let my checking account go into auto mode. As tooleman said, I also got caught a couple of times and the credit union snatched money from savings and I hate when they do that because they only transfer the amount for the charge and I only get 8 transfer a month. If it happens, I usually transfer over the amount needed plus cushion before the next incoming charge hits. But I have been super lucky a couple of times I saw this because the charge was still pending so I hurried up and made the transfer myself before it was fully processed.
Quicken Loans?!? You are taking the tough route by going to these industry giants for a loan. I would go see a local broker as they may let them slide.
I don't have overdraft protection and a long long time ago, I bounced a check. The bank was kind enough to cover the check for me when they didn't have to. I got an NSF fee and the check was considered bounced. With overdraft protection, they give you a line of credit to cover bounced checks. But, the check is unfortunately still considered bounced if you don't have savings to draw from to cover it. Excessive use of an overdraft line of credit looks like financial mismanagement by a lender. It is only there to protect you if you make a mistake and not for convenience as it shows lenders you are living beyond your means. I know you never had anyone go after you for a bounced check because the bank paid it but it is still considered bounced as you get charged a NSF fee. The only difference is, when the bank pays, that the payee doesn't get a fee on their end. If the bank doesn't pay, your check bounces in their account as well and then the merchant/payee will come after you for the original amount plus the bounced check fee. If you cash a check from a friend that doesn't have funds in their account, you will get a bounced check fee and any checks or debits you charged dependent on that person's check, will also bounce and you can rack up a ton of NSF fees there, which also looks bad to lenders as it shows too much financial trust in the wrong people. So it is always best to call your friends bank and verify sufficient funds before cashing their check.
I don't have overdraft protection and a long long time ago, I bounced a check. The bank was kind enough to cover the check for me when they didn't have to. I got an NSF fee and the check was considered bounced. With overdraft protection, they give you a line of credit to cover bounced checks. But, the check is unfortunately still considered bounced if you don't have savings to draw from to cover it. Excessive use of an overdraft line of credit looks like financial mismanagement by a lender. It is only there to protect you if you make a mistake and not for convenience as it shows lenders you are living beyond your means. I know you never had anyone go after you for a bounced check because the bank paid it but it is still considered bounced as you get charged a NSF fee. The only difference is, when the bank pays, that the payee doesn't get a fee on their end. If the bank doesn't pay, your check bounces in their account as well and then the merchant/payee will come after you for the original amount plus the bounced check fee. If you cash a check from a friend that doesn't have funds in their account, you will get a bounced check fee and any checks or debits you charged dependent on that person's check, will also bounce and you can rack up a ton of NSF fees there, which also looks bad to lenders as it shows too much financial trust in the wrong people. So it is always best to call your friends bank and verify sufficient funds before cashing their check.
myFICO is the consumer division of FICO. Since its introduction 20 years ago, the FICO® Score has become a global standard for measuring credit risk in the banking, mortgage, credit card, auto and retail industries. 90 of the top 100 largest U.S. financial institutions use the FICO Score to make consumer credit decisions.
>> About myFICO
FOLLOW US 
SUBSCRIBE TO myFICO EMAIL 