kevin922 0 #1 November 6, 2002 So - how do you guys track your money? Do you prefer Money (microsoft) or Quicken? Every year I vow to myself as a new years resolution to start keeping track of where all my money goes (i don't balance a checkbook, actually I hardly write checks.. but that is another story) but anyway, that normally falls through by about week 3.. so was curious if you guys use any of those software programs in order to generate nice pie charts on how much goes to skydiving and whatnot. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #2 November 6, 2002 It comes, it goes, I either have enough to party or I don't....Its that simple..I don't like to think how much I spend on things like skydiving or beer, its not that important to me. -------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GroundZero 0 #3 November 6, 2002 i track my money at [http://www.wheresgeorge.com] hope that link thing worked.. Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #4 November 6, 2002 I use Money and it is the best thing that has ever happened to me financially, more important than how much I make (the more I make the more I spend anyway). My credit used to be crap because I'd pay bills late, or spend too much and not be able to pay all of it, etc. Now I have the best rating you can have. I use Money and try to buy everything with ATM or credit cards. Download my transactions from my bank every couple of days, double click on upcoming bills in the calender to pay them, take a peek at my projected cash flow for the next week, and I'm good to go. I spend about 15 minutes per week (5 mins. at a time) and it keeps all my money in order. Tracks my assets, investments, bank accounts, credit cards, bills, how much I budget for skydiving, etc. It takes a while to get it up and running, you have to enter all your info and consistently use it, modify, make adjustments. But after a couple months of going through that process and getting everything set up just right, it saves loads of time, keeps you up to date, and actually saves you money by telling you which debts to pay off first for least amount of interest payments. You can also set it up to automatically have you use extra cash on hand to pay down debt or put toward savings. I can't say enough about how much of a difference it has made in my life. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildblue 7 #5 November 6, 2002 I used to use Quicken... I haven't opened it in a number of months - I got really lazy. My bank has all my statements and stuff online, I just look at it there. And if I actually want to plan to save money (phht.. why??) they've got this little button you click that downloads a file that imports right into quicken. My biggest problem is keeping track of cash. I'll pull $80 out of the ATM, and two days later, it's gone and I don't know where. I've been good lately, but when I find myself running to the ATM too much, I keep a little pocket notebook in my car, and write down when/where I spend money.it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #6 November 6, 2002 I have online banking/investing and I always write things in my checkbook the minute I write a check, etc. Actually, I have my own coding system. If I use my American Express card (which you must pay in full each month) then I go ahead and write it in my checkbook and put a star by the transaction. When I make my payment at the end of the month, I highlight all the stars so I know they were paid for but my balance remains the same b/c I already subtracted the $$$ from my account. I also have a lot of direct deposit/withdrawals. My investment returns and my paycheck are automatically deposited in my account and my car payment, etc, is automatically withdrawn from my account. I schedule this to all happen on the same day so that day, every month, I write it all in my check book. I also, regularly check my accounts online to make sure transactions went through for the correct amount, etc. It sounds complicated but it's REALLY easy. My checkbook is full of codes but they work for me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spy38W 0 #7 November 6, 2002 http://www.wheresgeorge.com -- Hook high, flare on time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingbunky 3 #8 November 6, 2002 or, for the candians in the crowd, where's willy?"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart." MB4252 TDS699 killing threads since 2001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Staso 0 #9 November 6, 2002 www.yodlee.com stan. -- it's not about defying gravity; it's how hard you can abuse it. speed skydiving it is ... Speed Skydiving Forum Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emartin 0 #10 November 6, 2002 i used to have the hardest time keeping everything straight with my money...i even used to bounce checks (gasp!) after becoming confused between the two different bank accounts i have open. i tried to use quicken, but found that my banks' webpages didn't make it very easy to download transactions...ease of transaction maintenance was the main reason i wanted to use quicken, not taxes, not billing, just reconciling my checkbooks. so, i made an excel spreadsheet that does it all for me. i have to enter each transaction, but i have it set up to give me a pie graph of the breakdown of where my money goes/how it was spent. i gave a copy to a friend and she loves it too. i reconcile online (the link to my bank webpage is embedded in the spreadsheet) and simply tear up my bank statements when they get to me...as far as i'm concerned, the statements are old news by the time they show up anyway. i've used it for over a year now and it's helped a lot. for example, i realized that i was spending more on local phone service and long distance charges than it would cost me to use a cell...so now, i own a cell phone and cut the land line...yippee! no more phone calls from solicitors or anyone else you would rather not talk with, for that matter...although sprint did have the nerve to call me once to try to sell me something...jerks. anyway, here's a picture of this month's spreadsheet to give you an idea of what i mean. you can set up any category of spending that you like; it's pretty straight forward. if you want a starter copy for yourself, let me know and i'll email you one. =) cheers, beth Picture 1.pdf Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,447 #11 November 6, 2002 I write checks for just about everything, and do my balance quickly. That way I know how much I have left. Tried Quicken and the like, it didn't even last as long as a week, because I kept putting it off. Pen and paper for me... My checkbook never quite matches what the bank has to say, but as long as I don't bounce checks and I'm within 15-20 dollars (I only adjust my balance about twice a year to match the bank's) I'm OK with it. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #12 November 6, 2002 Damn, only $400 for rent! I don't believe I've seen that in 10 years All the places around here (Maryland hi tech corridor) are around $1K per month, and up around Boston area (where my brothers live) its even worse! Too bad this is where all the biotech & computer jobs are. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QuickDraw 0 #13 November 6, 2002 Quote I don't like to think how much I spend on things like skydiving or beer, its not that important to me. Hmmm.. it seems very important to them people who keep phoning me up -- Hope you don't die. -- I'm fucking winning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #14 November 6, 2002 Quote Hmmm.. it seems very important to them people who keep phoning me up Those people who call me up keep talking about how irresponsible I am with my credit cards. Me? Why is it my fault? It was irresponsible of them to send me the darn thing. I blame society. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #15 November 6, 2002 QuoteI blame society. Society is not to blame!! I blame it all on wildblue. Not sure why, just seems like a good person to blame it on. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QuickDraw 0 #16 November 6, 2002 I see it more as a target than a limit. -- Hope you don't die. -- I'm fucking winning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #17 November 6, 2002 HA HA HA HA HA...that is too funny! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mouth 0 #18 November 6, 2002 I haven't balanced my checkbook in 4 years. I do write the check down in case something gets lost but that is it. My check goes in every month and my house payment comes out. Twenty percent of my check comes out before I see it and goes to a 403b plan. There is no car payment or any other large bill. I pay my credit cards off at least every other month, and I have perfect credit. (This is pronounced when I get 40-50 credit card apps every week...all of which I trash) I think it is a matter of knowing what you are making and what you spend generally (my bills are usually always about the same) and staying below that sum. . -- Hot Mama At least you know where you stand even if it is in a pile of shit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #19 November 6, 2002 Quote I see it more as a target than a limit. Speed limits, credit limits...aren't they all just guidelines really? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kevin922 0 #20 November 6, 2002 Quotewww.yodlee.com stan. Wow that is kinda interesting, do you actually use this or just heard about it? I'm kinda leary -- doesn't this mean they have access to all your bank info? Or even worse, all your bank info is in one place for a hacker? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Staso 0 #21 November 6, 2002 QuoteQuotewww.yodlee.com stan. Wow that is kinda interesting, do you actually use this or just heard about it? I'm kinda leary -- doesn't this mean they have access to all your bank info? Or even worse, all your bank info is in one place for a hacker? i've been using it for almost two weeks now. it's pretty cool stuff. it lets you see how you net worth changes. it takes into account all your assets and you liabilities. as for security, it's the same as you use for online banking. they use https protocol and they automaticaly insure you for free. they do have all your login info in one place to access all your accounts. they're pretty well known and seem to be trustworhty. my primary bank (dcu.com), which i trust, started offering account aggregation service. i took a look at it and what i saw was "powered by yodlee". it just made me more confident with it. stan. -- it's not about defying gravity; it's how hard you can abuse it. speed skydiving it is ... Speed Skydiving Forum Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
