Posted on 06/05/2022 4:05:52 PM PDT by ducttape45
Good evening fellow Freepers.
I wanted to ask for advise from you all. I have been using a simple Excel spreadsheet to list my expenses and monitor and track my bills for years, however, I was thinking of utilizing a PC based software program or a web based financial management website. I was wondering if I might acquire some recommendations for which way to go.
I've used Excel just because it's easier for me just go on there and list my expenses and revenue, but I'm wondering if there might be an easier way to do things.
Thanks for your help.
Learn Excel better. It can do almost anything...all you need to do is unlock it. I have built a spreadsheet that tracks everything, does projections of income, calculates monthly budgets, saving etc. You’ll have to learn other software. I worked in the industry for years and never found anything that had more flexibility and privacy.
do you have the microsoft database system “Access” ?
It used to come together with excel and word in some Ms Office Packages.
I could build you a simple system in Access in a short time.
It could even take new data from an Excel spreadsheet if you did not want to do “data entry” with screen/forms.
Pro Bono.
I do indeed keep things simple. My Excel spreadsheet basically looks like a simple ledger. That’s it.
The fee for QuickBooks Online is going up to about $100 a month. And it’s a lousy online interface, awkward, slow, limited and frustrating.
Stick to the spreadsheets. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
QuickBooks desktop has switched to a subscription system, you need to renew it for $200-$300 a year. Don’t pay the fee, you lose access to your program and data. The only way to save your data then is to download in excel format, and then good luck sorting out that mess.
Intuit sucks. I have to use them because my clients do. But there is a special circle of hell for them.
I have to use QuickBooks because my CPA uses it - but if it’s just for personal use I agree - get good at Excel before spending any money.
I use Office 365 and save everything to my system.
There is a setting in Winders so that you can save to your hard drive, or to a USB drive.
For someone that understands basic accounting, gnuCash is great! I use it for business purposes.
Same here. Has worked well for DH and me these many years. Love it.
MoneyManager Ex is a cross-platform software, similar to Quicken. Free for personal use.
Why change? Over a period of many years we have an Excel spreadsheet that does everything we need it to do. We keep it local, back it up nightly. It contains all the history for projects done on the house. No need to buy something, you have what you need already.
I am using Quickbooks pro 12, and refuse to upgrade. When a bunch of crap quit working last year I started looking into upgrading and found out about annual subscription. I installed 21 desktop trial version and it FIXED everything in 12 that quit working. Now it is still working great with no problems.
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