I resolve to stop rounding our checkbook to the nearest zero

I think this is a joke saying "I resolve to stop spending all the money in my checking account."

It is common to use the new year to make resolutions - decide to do things to improve yourself. In math, rounding to the ones digit means taking a number like 123.45 and "rounding" it to 123. Rounding to the tens digit would make it 120. This is why I think this is a joke. Rounding to the nearest zero really doesn't make sense, but the author is probably saying that his checkbook is often empty.

Rounding to the nearest zero does make sense.

It could mean that you would make $123.45 $123.00 and $123.75 would be $124.00. You would always be either at the dollar amount you started with without the cents or the next dollar amount without the cents.

You would be out anywhere between 1ø and 99ø

That's not rounding to the nearest zero, that is rounding to the nearest dollar or the one's place. Still, that could be what the author intended and they just mis-spoke.

I know someone who does just that. I also know folks who always round up to the next full dollar. They do it to keep the math simple and to always have a cushion in their account.

the source

http://www.maggielamondsimone.com/uploads/chicken_soup_New_Year.doc

you can ask Maggie what she meant


http://www.maggielamondsimone.com/


(I round up to the nearest zero when I'm grocery shopping, to keep a quick running tally - once taxes are added I'm usually within cents of the total)

After seeing a couple of you use this expression, I did a search on "round to the nearest zero" and what sounds nonsensical to me is apparently in common usage meaning "round to the nearest dollar" or pound or euro, etc.

What's common isn't always right.

<grumble>

The historical record shows that when it comes to language, Roger, what is common is right. There is no other possible way.

I didn't go to the source, but I believe this writer is saying that she will be more careful and exact in tracking her expenses. "Rounding off" figures in a checkbook gives you an estimate, not an accurate tally.