Budgeting/home accounting software?

scottmandue · 12-22-2005, 06:46 AM

Okay things are getting bad... I'm... I'm... going to put myself on a budget (sigh) Yep... going to do it... finally

I have a regular (40K) job and one piece of income property so I don't need anything too fancy (or expensive). Just want to input my paycheck and incoming rent and then log all my expenses so I can get a better handle on my money.

Anyone using something like that? I have heard of Quicken and Microsoft Money.

And I'm going to clean up my garage... really... I swear.

LeeH · 12-22-2005, 06:53 AM

Quicken is excellent for home. Quickbooks is more business oriented. Both are fairly similar and easy to use... but you do have to use them. I've been working part time for a CPA for the last 6 months and am amazed at how many people don't have a handle on money management.

VaSteve · 12-22-2005, 06:53 AM

I use Money only because it came with the computer. I disabled half the features or just don't use them because it tries to automate your life. It will depress you when you find out where your mney is going.

Paul T · 12-22-2005, 07:18 AM

I use Quicken and am very happy with it...it's interesting to see where all your money goes once you really start tracking it. I categorize every cent and at the end of the year, it's always eye-opening to see how much was spent on dinners, going out, all the little stuff that you don't think about while spending it - it all adds up!

Hint: Keep P-car expenditures "off book" somehow, you really don't want to know!

Rot 911 · 12-22-2005, 07:23 AM

Quicken

RallyJon · 12-22-2005, 07:34 AM

The competition between Quicken and MS Money has resulted in both getting bloated and overly featured for most people. I still use the first Win95 version of Money. Does everything I need with no excess baggage and runs instantly on modern systems.

scottmandue · 12-22-2005, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LeeH
... I've been working part time for a CPA for the last 6 months and am amazed at how many people don't have a handle on money management.

Yeah, that would be me... I'm starting to get close to the big five zero and need to be more (gasp) responsible with my funds.

I work for the state and signed up for their free one day retirement/investment seminar also.

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by LeeH
Quicken is excellent for home. Quickbooks is more business oriented. Both are fairly similar and easy to use... but you do have to use them.

That's definitely the key! Dowsn't do you any good to go through all the work to set it up if you end up getting lazy and don't stay with it.

Randy
(The Good Randy of the East)

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

any old spreadsheet will do just the trick

Evans, Marv · 12-22-2005, 09:18 AM

Scott,
I'll go with Quicken too, although Stijn is right also. One other thing you might consider is this: Make yourself up a chart by month showing all of the periodic outlays for things like car insurance premiums, property taxes, etc. Of course you can average them up to show the monthly costs, but the visual presentation is also a help in planning for them. I found it to be a help for me.