Budget Program ?
- Thread starter oohlala
- Start date
I am looking into getting software to handle the household finances, like Quicken or MS Money. Anyone have comments on these programs, or recommend others? I am sorta taking on this task and want some direction.carriesmom
New member
There are some online programs that will help track expenses and they can link directly to your accounts if you want them to. They are mint.com and wesabe.com. Mvelopes is online system that works like the envelope system of budgeting. A program you can buy that I have heard good things about is You Need A Budget. I am planning on buying that one myself because I had issues with mint linking to my account (it wouldn't). I personally find Quicken and MS Money to be too much for households. (Can you tell I read personal finance blogs?)
Julie Billingsley
The Ghost of Awesome Past
I used MS Money for years but they aren't making it anymore I guess. I went to upgrade recently and the Microsoft site said they recommend Quicken now, so it is coming in the mail. I'm not super keen on change so I'm not sure how I'll like quicken. 
I hadn't heard of Mvelopes. I'll look into that. I set up MS Money to have multiple accounts (envelopes) and I have my main checkbook with everything. Yes, it's double entry but it keeps me on track.
I hadn't heard of Mvelopes. I'll look into that. I set up MS Money to have multiple accounts (envelopes) and I have my main checkbook with everything. Yes, it's double entry but it keeps me on track.
BTW we will have paid off 3 credit cards as of Feb 1st!!I just switched from using an Excel spreadsheet my DH made to You Need A Budget and I'm seriously in love. Yes, in love with a budget software.
But it's the first software I've found that actually fit the rules we'd already put in place for how we dealt with our budget. Here's the link:
http://www.youneedabudget.com/
I'd really recommend giving it a look. They have a 7-day trial but if you contact them, they'll usually give you an extension so you can try it out for longer if you're still unsure. I did look around for other options most of which have been mentioned (mvelopes, mint, pear budget) but this one was the only system that had exactly what I was looking for. :thumbup:
If anyone has any questions about it, I'd be more than willing to help. Their forums also have a ton of information as well and they offer free online classes and video tutorials to help you get started as well.
TanyaLynn2
New member
I just purchased You Need a Budget 3 and I really like it. It is very easy to use which is one thing that I wanted since I have never really used budgeting software before.
oohlala
New member
Wow, you girls are a ton of information!! Thanks so much. I checked into all the online ones... albeit briefly. Other than mint.com, can you pay from any of the others? What about You need a budget, can you connect it to your account and pay bills from that? I want to streamline this process as much as possible, while keeping a close eye on it.
I had no idea that MS Money was gone!! I have used Quicken in the past, but it was NIGHTMARE to connect it to my account, so I wasn't sure if it had gotten better. Also, it was very overwhelming. Oh... just trying to keep up with all the bills is overwhelming. And DH has been doing it in his head, which makes me bonkers!! You girls sound like you have it all together!! So jealous!
Alison
I had no idea that MS Money was gone!! I have used Quicken in the past, but it was NIGHTMARE to connect it to my account, so I wasn't sure if it had gotten better. Also, it was very overwhelming. Oh... just trying to keep up with all the bills is overwhelming. And DH has been doing it in his head, which makes me bonkers!! You girls sound like you have it all together!! So jealous!
Alison
You Need a Budget doesn't have direct connect but you can manually download your transactions from your bank and import them that way. It also has the option to schedule transactions which you could use as a way to keep track of when all your bills are due. You'd still have to physically pay them but at least you wouldn't have to remember them all.
All my bills are set up to pay automatically so I wasn't really worried about finding software that would do it for me. Does your bank offer bill pay? That would be another way you could pay them automatically as well.
jaylensmom
New member
I use Quicken although I've never created a budget...I do track my bank accounts, credit cards, my 401k...I love it but then again I've never tried anything else...
Megan Turnidge
New member
I just switched from using an Excel spreadsheet my DH made to You Need A Budget and I'm seriously in love. Yes, in love with a budget software.
Here's the link:
http://www.youneedabudget.com/
I'd really recommend giving it a look. They have a 7-day trial but if you contact them, they'll usually give you an extension so you can try it out for longer if you're still unsure. I did look around for other options most of which have been mentioned (mvelopes, mint, pear budget) but this one was the only system that had exactly what I was looking for. :thumbup:
Lynnette, I just wanted to come back and thank you for this post. I've been using it the past week and my trial expires tomorrow. I seriously don't know how I'll live without it until I have the money to buy it.
jessica31876
New member
I use Microsoft Word. It works for me. I put the bills that need to be paid for each month and the date they are due and when it is paid I go in and note paid next to it as soon as I pay it with the date it was paid. That way I can see at a glance what is paid and what is not and when it was paid.
Lynnette, I just wanted to come back and thank you for this post. I've been using it the past week and my trial expires tomorrow. I seriously don't know how I'll live without it until I have the money to buy it.
Oh you're welcome! Have you emailed them to see if you can get an extension? Seriously, they're super nice and I know the main developer said in the forums that they'll give extensions of the trial up to 120 days to give you time to save up to buy the program if you're interested.