Personal money software

My wife and I are looking to change how we track out money. I am looking at Quicken and I am looking for feedback from this fine group.

Is Quicken good or do you recommend an brand?

Thanks. RS

We use Quicken 2010 right now but if I were to consider upgrading or switching I'd look pretty hard at Mint.

https://www.mint.com/

I use Excel for all my money tracking.

Microsoft Money 99 works for me.

I don't have enough money to track.

/joke

Seriously though, I do it "old school" (pen and paper). I'm anal retentive about tracking purchases, save receipts, and use a debit card for everything though (woohoo 1% cash back!). It's a lot harder to do if you're heavy on cash.

fastEddie wrote: We use Quicken 2010 right now but if I were to consider upgrading or switching I'd look pretty hard at Mint. https://www.mint.com/

The ONLY problem with Mint is that it is not great for "forward" tracking.

It won't help you manage when to pay bills, or how much you'll have the day before payday... so I still run a "checkbook" in Excel.

Mint is good for seeing what you spent, but not great at how much money you'll have in the future. The fact that I'm still doing it in Excel shows I have not found a good tool yet that does it.

Depends on what OS you're on.

If you're on a Mac, you might want to look at iBank - I've been using it for a while and like the way it works. On Windows I used MS Money, but they stopped developing it and at least in the UK turned off the feed for stock market and exchange rate info.

I use Excel for keeping track of EVERYTHING. But then again I have a serious hard on for spreadsheets!

http://www.youneedabudget.com/

Love it. Used it for a while. Combined with Financial Peace University I have paid off $3K in debt and put $1K into savings since February.

Javelin wrote: I don't have enough money to track. /joke Seriously though, I do it "old school" (pen and paper). I'm anal retentive about tracking purchases, save receipts, and use a debit card for everything though (woohoo 1% cash back!). It's a lot harder to do if you're heavy on cash.

You debit card still offers cash back? I was pretty sure the Credit CARD Reform Act of 2009 and it's fee limits killed all of them. I know USAA pulled their rewards/cash back.

I use Mint.com. Works pretty well.

Thanks guys. I just got Quicken. I hope it works well:-)

Osterkraut wrote: You debit card still offers cash back? I was pretty sure the Credit CARD Reform Act of 2009 and it's fee limits killed all of them. I know USAA pulled their rewards/cash back. I use Mint.com. Works pretty well.

http://www.perkstreet.com/

1% minimum cash back debit card.

http://www.perkstreet.com/fees.aspx

Just an FYI

I'd totally switch to Perk Street, but I really like my local home owned bank with people behind the counter that know my name, rather than a debit card that has no counter that I can go to and look someone in the face with. Although I really do like the idea of cash back on a debit card. Dave Ramsey sure does like 'em.

I need to keep better track of my money, there's been plenty of time that I've gone broke by the old "Death my a thousand swipes" method.

Been using Quicken 2004 since..........2004.

Easy to use and see where you stand. I do not download from the bank, but input posts manually. Downloading will save lots of time, but I would need to upgrade. Someday I will.

Just spend an hour or so a week and you are good to go.

Johnboyjjb wrote:

Osterkraut wrote: You debit card still offers cash back? I was pretty sure the Credit CARD Reform Act of 2009 and it's fee limits killed all of them. I know USAA pulled their rewards/cash back. I use Mint.com. Works pretty well.

http://www.perkstreet.com/ 1% minimum cash back debit card. http://www.perkstreet.com/fees.aspx Just an FYI

Well lookat that!

BoostedBrandon wrote: I'd totally switch to Perk Street, but I really like my local home owned bank with people behind the counter that know my name, rather than a debit card that has no counter that I can go to and look someone in the face with. Although I really do like the idea of cash back on a debit card. Dave Ramsey sure does like 'em. I need to keep better track of my money, there's been plenty of time that I've gone broke by the old "Death my a thousand swipes" method.

That shouldn't mean near as much as getting interest on your purchases and checking account, IMO. I mean everybody is going to pursue what means most to them but for me a credit union that pays me back for using them wins in my book everytime!

For those of you using Excel do you use templates or did you create your own? I've thought about using Excel to keep better track of my finances, too. I figured if I use a spread sheet I can update it on the go as well by my smart phone and/or upload to Google Drive. Thoughts?

Howzabout Gnucash?

http://www.gnucash.org/

Free as in speech and beer

The OP got me reinterested in Personal financial software and I did play with gnucash several years ago but never got serious about using anything.

I use an Excel spreadsheet because I already have it. Save the money you'd spend on finance software and buy a share of stock in some up-and-coming software company.