Household Budget/Tracking software

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I'm wondering what kind (if any) of software y'all might be using to help keep track of household budgets. Anyone use Quicken or MSMoney? Any free stuff online?

I feel confident that I can create a simple tracking spreadsheet with Excel, but I don't really have time. I doubt that I really need anything as sophisticated as online bill paying or portfolio management (!), but I really would like to set up an electronic way to track our expenses against a budget, plus be able to kick out a few recaps on where the money went (no way to track "why", I suppose!)...And I really don't want to pay a lot of money for something unless I absolutely have to!!!

Spent $160 on vet bills today. Didn't really plan on it, of course. But I've been thinking about this for a while. I feel like I'm losing focus lately.

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2002

Answers

I use quiken on a non internet system I have.

-- Anonymous, May 21, 2002

Do you like it? Do you recommend it? Thanks.

-- Anonymous, May 21, 2002

I use it for generating my tax records and such. My copy is a few years old and I bought it at the library friends sale for a dollar. Thats why I use it :>) As I said , my only concern was not allowing a net connection to a system with personal info on it.

-- Anonymous, May 21, 2002

I use Quicken as well; I like it, and my tax person gave us a $75 break on our taxes this year, because she was able to figure everything out easier than usual! (we have twenty page federal tax return, alas)

You can also use it to balance your checkbook, I'm told, but have not yet tried to figure out how to do this. I should. Soon.

-- Anonymous, May 24, 2002


I forgot to mention: all I have to do is type everything out of my checkbook once a month (well, once every few, or several months). Quicken organizes everything, automagically.

The main reason I TRY to enter stuff monthy, is in case I lose my check book; I'd be DOOMED!

-- Anonymous, May 24, 2002



My computer came bundled with MSWorks "Money". I still haven't figured out how to use it. A friend has had Quicken for years, and when she was showing it to me, it seemed pretty straightforward. I keep meaning to try it . . . .

In the meantime, JOJ, I have "carbon copy" checks. My credit union forced us into those years ago. I soon came to see their advantages. Then the credit union added Telephone Teller, and I could dial up and push buttons on my phone and find out my totals, etc. THEN they went online and I got a computer -- WHEE! I can balance my checkbook twice a month, and pay bills electronically. I LOVE it! I also, supposedly (I haven't tried it yet), downloads your files to both Quicken and Money programs. Gotta get ON that . . . .

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2002


Hmm. Thanks for your thoughts. I have looked at old versions of Quiken at Half Price Books, and wondered how much of it would still be useable. We used to have MSMoney on our old hard drive. I wonder if we somehow kept the old software somewhere in a box in the garage.

Mr. S. now has an opportunity to get funding (books and tuition) for TWO MORE YEARS of school....if we have ever needed to pinch pennies, this will soon be the time! Living on my meager income will be interesting. Yikes. Actually, our first years of marriage were probably more desperate, $-wise. But it's been 20 years. Since I'm gone 11 hours a day M-F, I am really going to be challenged with keeping this place up, plus working. The last three qtrs for his school are 90 miles away. This could be interesting...

Anyway, thanks again.

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2002


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