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What personal finance software do FReepers use? *VANITY*
My noggin ^ | 16 March 2015 | The Rarest

Posted on 03/16/2015 5:24:49 AM PDT by rarestia

Since my 8-year-old copy of Microsoft Money has finally decided to unceremoniously stop working, I've decided to start shopping around for a new personal finance program. My needs are relatively small. I really only use it to track my checking account and mortgage.

I looked into Intuit's Quicken software, but the reviews were pretty bleak. It seems that Intuit hasn't learned and continues to churn out garbage software that people just learn to live with and then are forced to upgrade 2 years later. On top of that, it's my understanding that you have to sign up for an account with them AND your data is stored in Intuit's cloud? Is this true? Any FReepers know about this?

Being an IT professional, I know better than to get snookered into putting any of my personal data in the cloud, and I've built a robust home network to ensure that I never have to. But that one deal-breaker has left me with few options as far a personal finance software goes.

So, FReepers, what personal finance software are you using? Anyone still tabulating their spending on paper? I've considered that. How about spreadsheets like Excel? Considered that as well.

Any recommendations or experiences would be welcome!


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: acemoney; finance; financialsoftware; gnucash; money; quicken; software
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1 posted on 03/16/2015 5:24:49 AM PDT by rarestia
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To: rarestia

I happen to have some kind of Quicken derivative built in to my Credit Union’s website.


2 posted on 03/16/2015 5:26:47 AM PDT by Crazieman (Article V or National Divorce. The only solutions now.)
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To: Crazieman

There are some banks that provide personal financial management software to their customers, but being that it’s linked to the bank, if you leave them, you probably lose the license to it as well.


3 posted on 03/16/2015 5:27:37 AM PDT by rarestia (It's time to water the Tree of Liberty.)
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To: rarestia

My personal finance program is me looking at the bank account and seeing how little I have. I wish one day to need a personal finance program : )


4 posted on 03/16/2015 5:29:21 AM PDT by minnesota_bound
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To: rarestia

Take a look at this http://www.gnucash.org/


5 posted on 03/16/2015 5:29:55 AM PDT by taxcontrol
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To: taxcontrol

OMG! GNU software! THANK YOU SO MUCH!


6 posted on 03/16/2015 5:30:51 AM PDT by rarestia (It's time to water the Tree of Liberty.)
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To: rarestia

If you dont mind paying for the software, http://personal-finance-software-review.toptenreviews.com/acemoney-review.html


7 posted on 03/16/2015 5:32:42 AM PDT by taxcontrol
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To: rarestia

:: My needs are relatively small. I really only use it to track my checking account and mortgage. ::

Sounds like you just simply need to build an Excel file. You can add in your 401K/IRA/Pension tracking, too.


8 posted on 03/16/2015 5:35:53 AM PDT by Cletus.D.Yokel (Catastrophic Anthropogenic Climate Alterations: The acronym explains the science.)
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To: rarestia

If your needs are basic, then Quicken is about the only thing out there anymore. I had been a Money user as well, and it held a lot of promise early. Then Microsoft became disinterested in it, leaving the field to Quicken.

The only issue I have with them is that you do have to get a new version at least every 3 years if you want to use their direct links to banks’ on-line services. If you’re comfortable exporting a Quicken formatted file from the banks, then importing it into Quicken, you don’t have to do this. As good as most banks’ on-line bill-pay services have gotten, you can manage your outbound money with that, and the inbound transactions with the export/import.


9 posted on 03/16/2015 5:36:10 AM PDT by Be Free (I believe in gun control. The more people that control their own guns, the safer we'll all be.)
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To: rarestia

10 posted on 03/16/2015 5:41:16 AM PDT by Carriage Hill ( Some days you're the windshield, and some days you're just the bug.)
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To: rarestia

I’ve had my “Microsoft Money” (with up-grades) since 2000. I hate to give it up as it is the easiest and friendliest program ever. Really helps during tax time with “reports” of expenditures, etc.

As there is no longer any link-up online, I keep it on an my old HP System which I bought in 2003. I don’t know which will give out first the software or the hardware!

I’ve tried Quicken, iBank and several other programs on my iMac but I hate them because they basically suck.

Microsoft made a big mistake, in my opinion, disposing of Microsoft Money.


11 posted on 03/16/2015 5:42:15 AM PDT by Joe Marine 76 ("Honor is the gift a man gives to himself." ~ Rob Roy MacGregor)
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To: rarestia

Have been using Quicken Starter edition the last three months to track a volunteer organization’s accounts. So far it has performed adequately.

Though an Intuit account is necessary, it is without fee. Cloud storage is available for a fee but not required. And am able to link with serving financial institutions to download account data for reconciliation.

Using the software feels a little clumsy. The reports are a bit stiff. But overall the software does the job.

Likely there is better software out there, including Quicken products. But if you can get a free copy of Quicken Starter it should be worth trying for an evaluation.

Be advised, I do not believe Starter can be upgraded. Nor do I know about any 2 year limitations. So additional reviews would be prudent.


12 posted on 03/16/2015 5:48:15 AM PDT by DakotaGator (Weep for the lost Republic! And keep your powder dry!!)
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To: Be Free

But Quicken requires online access and that you store your data on their systems. Is that not the case?


13 posted on 03/16/2015 5:48:36 AM PDT by rarestia (It's time to water the Tree of Liberty.)
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To: rarestia

I use excel.


14 posted on 03/16/2015 5:49:24 AM PDT by ViLaLuz (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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To: rarestia

Excel.


15 posted on 03/16/2015 5:49:49 AM PDT by cuban leaf (The US will not survive the obama presidency. The world may not either.)
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To: taxcontrol

Do you have experience with GnuCash or AceMoney? I really don’t mind spending money on software. My only requirement is that it’s self-contained and doesn’t require that I sign into an external system to access my registers.

GnuCash appears to be more accountant-level, which I don’t mind, but I really want to be able to import my Money registers. AceMoney has promise.


16 posted on 03/16/2015 5:50:45 AM PDT by rarestia (It's time to water the Tree of Liberty.)
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To: rarestia

Microsoft Excel. I can tailor it to however I want to analyze my finances. Very flexible program.


17 posted on 03/16/2015 5:51:56 AM PDT by Future Snake Eater (CrossFit.com)
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To: Future Snake Eater

I guess I don’t understand how to use Excel that way. I am by no means an Excel power user. I use Excel for organization of computer resources but not for finance.

I’ll have to look into this.


18 posted on 03/16/2015 5:53:59 AM PDT by rarestia (It's time to water the Tree of Liberty.)
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To: rarestia

For OSX I use iBank now. It’s ok. I used to use Quicken, then went with Money.

When WinTen comes out I’ll go back to Quicken probably.

The feature I like is when downloading transactions my finance software automatically is notified and imports it.

Another thing that helps a lot is 1Password to keep my logins and passwords straight. It’s a breeze now.


19 posted on 03/16/2015 5:55:25 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: taxcontrol; rarestia
gnucash is also my current favorite.

Lots of support and works across platforms.

There is even an app for convenience when you are on the go.

20 posted on 03/16/2015 5:55:38 AM PDT by whodathunkit
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