Good Software to Manage/Monitor Income/Expenses

[Kevin T]

I would like to keep track of what goes in and what goes out.

I seem to calculate there is more money than what my dad expects every month. What software is the best (price not an issue) to monitor income deposits versus expenses.

Thank you.

[Rehan]

A simple spreadsheet can do the job. I used to do it on paper when I was a student (oh, how I long for the days of paying only $700/month for all expenses including food, rent, and transportation! :D ).

If you want to pay for something fancy, you can use Quicken or Microsoft Money. But there are some simple free alternatives, too:
http://www.kreatives.org/platform/index.php?section=cashmanager
http://www.mechcad.net/products/acemoney/index_lite.shtml
http://www.arachnoid.com/PLCash/
http://jgnash.sourceforge.net/
http://www.thezeal.com/software/manager/
http://www.geocities.com/nirajkagarwal/

I haven't tried any of the free ones... I use Quicken.

[Kinki]

That's a nice list there Rehan. Going to give some of them a try.... having 4 bank accounts can sometimes give me headache.

[Kevin T]

Microsoft Money 2005 was really confusing, it was horrible for me.

[Hymac]

Keep it simple: use Excel

[Kevinck]

MSMoney 2000 was great. Simple enough to keep track of all your expenses and even generate a few reports if you want. I still use it since 2004 was an ungodly mess and i hear 2005 is just as bad.

A perfectly setup spread sheet will do a great job too. But it was nice being about to sort, search and generate reports without having to be a power excel user.

Don't know where you'll find MSMoney 2000 nowadays though.

[sleepyguy]

Ditto, Excel or learn some DB in the process and use Access.




Keep it simple: use Excel

[cheapbastage]

I have Money 2000. A quick glance reveals Ace Money is probably the closest.

The spreadsheet option is probably the most straight forward for tracking expenses/income. There are probably tonnes of templates out there. If your not trying import online statements and create a budget go with a simple spreadsheet.