A couple of months ago, I finally got a BlackBerry® . I had resisted for a long time, much as I had resisted getting a cell phone (it took me until 2002!). But I spend a fair amount traveling and in meetings, and I was getting tired of hauling my laptop around everywhere. So I relented.

Unfortunately, this poor device and I just aren't very compatible. I know some people are addicted — hence the term "CrackBerry"  — but I've really been struggling with mine. First, I couldn't get the hang of typing with my thumbs (still can't). Then my calendar kept disappearing. Then I had problems synching — and so on.

So I read the 258-page online manual. I called my internal tech support folks. I spent way more time monkeying with the thing than I had time for. What I really wanted was someone (or something) to show me the basics and patiently explain what I needed to know in plain language until I felt comfortable. Is that too much to ask?

I suppose the same thing could be said for anything — technology or otherwise — that seems foreign to us: We all could use a good user guide.

If a checking account is one of those things, I can offer some help. Wells Fargo recently developed a new educational booklet called "Getting Started: Your New Checking Account." It was designed to help customers understand the fundamentals of their Wells Fargo checking accounts. And while this may seem really basic to some, for others who haven't learned from family or friends or been through a financial literacy  program, it's downright necessary.

Even if you think you know all there is to know about checking accounts, I encourage you to take a look. I've had a checking account for more than half my lifetime, and I actually learned a few things! Check out the file here on the blog, or visit your local Wells Fargo store and pick up a copy from a banker. They're available in English, Spanish, and coming soon, multiple Asian languages.

Anyway, that's my advice for the day. While you work on your relationship with your checking account, I'm going to work on my relationship with my BlackBerry. I'm determined to make it work.