I run all my automatic, recurring, and bill payments through my Paypal debit card, and also make almost all purchases with it as well, due to the cash-back feature. I am occasionally paid into this Paypal account and my default is for payments to come from my Paypal balance, and from my linked bank account if the PP balance is insufficient. I find that my "Paypal Balance" often has little to do with how much money there actually is in the account. For example, two days ago, the balance was over $400 and all transactions were complete. A couple small (under $20 each) transactions came out and yesterday the balance was $0.00. This morning, nothing had changed in the transactions but the balance was $35.63. There had been a few hundred dollars transactions both ways several days before, but everything had been completed before the New Year holiday.
This is constant. I spend inordinate amounts of time opening each transaction to see how much cleared from my bank account and how much should have come from Paypal so I can figure out how much is actually IN the Paypal account. It appears that the Paypal balance subtracts pending transactions and I have found that I can usually rely on that but not always. I realize there will always be a little fluidity with funds moving in and out and reallocating between PP and my bank account, but a balance difference of $400 when no funds were coming or going has me stumped. Overall it all adds up, but at any given moment the Paypal balance can't be depended on. I wish they showed a running balance.
I'm about to try to start a hand ledger (never my best alternative as I'm a little dyslexic) but I'm wondering if there's something obvious I'm missing. I use Paypal on my laptop. Is the solution right in front of me?
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