This is a guest post by Frank McCourt.

For some, being obsessive about finances is nearly a pastime. Adjusting and readjusting monthly budgets, relying on inexpensive DIY solutions, and finding new ways to remain sustainable without spending is a thrilling pursuit that fuels one of the most massive blogging niches on the internet – personal finance.

However, finding pleasure in taking special attention to one’s finances is not just a blogger’s hobby. There are several ways that inattention can cost your finances dearly, and these are just three that you can avoid by simply paying attention to the numbers.

Pay Attention to Your Accounts (And Be Prepared To Dispute Any Disparities!)
With everything so heavily automated in modern banking, it can be surprising when something is miscalculated. While a few dollars here and there might only be obvious to the most tight of penny-pinchers, disparities can add up to drastic amounts if you aren’t completely on top of your expenditures. In the case that your checking account shows a disparity which happens against your favor, it’s time to dispute some charges.

If this occurs due to a stolen card, you might be more guarded against fraudulent charges. But in this age when personal data theft is more rampant than gun violence in the wild west, your best bet is to constantly stay privy to the particulars of your finances. To dispute a fraudulent charge, your first step is to write a letter to your bank or credit card provider.

Always ask for relevant documents detailing how the error occurred and be vigilant with any evidence which supports your claim. If they fail to respond or show their evidence and still insist on the amount you possess or owe after ninety days, you can write another letter to the creditor within another ten days stating your reasoning for refusing to pay.

After this point they might report you to a collections agency – but they must include the fact that you’re of the belief that this amount shouldn’t be owed. Should things reach this drastic point, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, in addition to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. With evidence and these organizations at your side, you can feel confident that your rights (and finances) will stay protected.

Note your subscribed services and always know how much you owe
One way that budgeters lose out is when they neglect to cancel a service when they are no longer using it (or when the price of these services raise without your careful attention). While services such as Netflix, Skype, and Xbox Live offer a host of entertainment services, these often go unused several months before most consumers go through the process of cancelling these services.

When you find yourself unable to pay for these services and you find that your usual expenditures is putting your budget deep into the red, it could be time to consider your options. Debt consolidation is more convenient and affordable than you might realize, and some providers have exceptional reputation for their services.

Do The Math When It Comes To Your Paycheck
When your paycheck doesn’t add up, whether because overtime isn’t being calculated correctly or the reported hours doesn’t seem right, it can be easy to go on the offensive. But in fact, with most small businesses relying on their own calculations rather than more expensive financial software suites, these errors are overwhelmingly accidental. Before going on the offensive with your boss, here’s what you should do.

First, you should simply deduce why you’re seeing the error that you are. Write down your calculations on paper which clearly illustrates you’re thinking. For some ideas on common issues in paycheck disparities, check out this guide. Before launching into an unbased accusation, having the paperwork to justify your position can spare you potential embarrassment or straining your relationship with your HR department.

If you’ve verified your error, simply bring your work to your HR department and request a correction. Just about any business is more than willing to correct such errors with sincere apologies, but when heads butt and there are disagreements when there are obvious errors against you, it can be time to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor. Their services are free and confidential, and any action of retaliation can merit serious legal action against offenders.

While these three situations can go to extreme measures, they can happen to just about anyone in small amounts here and there. To avoid any of these situations affecting your personal finances, closely monitoring each monthly statement and periodically checking into your account activities can spare you headaches and empty pockets later on.