Anyone else ever feel like you need a spreadsheet just to keep your checking account “loan ready”?
Honestly, I started keeping a little notebook just for this. Not even kidding. Every time I Venmo someone or get a weird refund, I jot it down because the last time I applied, the underwriter wanted explanations for literally everything over $10. It’s wild. I get that they’re looking for “large unexplained deposits,” but pizza money? Feels like overkill sometimes. My advice: keep things boring and predictable in your account until closing, even if it means skipping out on splitting dinner with friends for a bit.
Totally get where you’re coming from. When we bought our place last year, I swear the underwriter wanted a backstory for every $20 transfer. Here’s what worked for me:
- I stopped moving money between accounts unless it was absolutely necessary. No shuffling from savings, no random transfers.
- If I had to deposit cash (birthday, side gig, whatever), I made sure to keep the deposit slip and a note about where it came from.
- Canceled a couple subscription services just to keep things simple—didn’t want any extra questions about random $12 charges.
- Held off on paying friends back for stuff via apps until after closing. It felt weird, but it kept my bank statement boring.
Honestly, it’s a pain, but I get it—they’re just looking for anything out of the ordinary. Still, I wish they’d chill out about the little stuff sometimes. You’d think we were laundering millions, not splitting takeout.
Honestly, I get wanting to keep things simple, but I didn’t really change my habits that much during the process. I still Venmo’d friends for pizza and paid my gym membership like usual. My lender just asked for explanations on a couple things, and I sent screenshots or wrote a quick note. Yeah, it was a hassle, but it wasn’t the end of the world. I feel like if you try to make your finances look too “clean,” it can almost look suspicious, you know? Real life is messy.
- Totally get what you mean—trying to scrub your bank statements too much just looks weird.
- I kept my usual stuff going too, but I did pause a couple big purchases just in case.
- Lenders are used to seeing random Venmo charges or subscriptions. They just want to make sure there’s nothing sketchy, not that you’re living like a monk.
- Honestly, over-explaining can raise more questions than it answers. Just be upfront if they ask, but don’t stress about every coffee run showing up.
- The process is messy for everyone... lenders know real life isn’t a spreadsheet.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’d actually urge a bit more caution with those “random” transactions. Lenders do see a lot, but I’ve seen cases where even small, recurring transfers between friends or family triggered extra documentation requests. It’s not about living like a monk, but if you know you’ve got something unusual—like a big Venmo payment or a sudden cash deposit—it’s better to have a simple explanation ready. Sometimes what feels normal to us can look odd to an underwriter who doesn’t know the context. Just my two cents... I’ve watched folks get delayed over stuff they thought was no big deal.
