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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:01 am Subject: Keeping track of your finances

Just wondering what people use to keep track of their spending... (assuming they do at all!)

Spreadsheet? Offline or online accounting software? Or just good old fashioned pen and paper?

I have a sneaking suspicion I wouldn't have half the credit card debt I have now if I had of just recorded my expenses as I made them Sad

Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:31 pm Subject:

Anyone?

Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:47 pm Subject:

Quicken is pretty popular. Microsoft Money...

Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:02 pm Subject:

I use this financial accounting program called BusinessWorks by Sage Software. It really is more geared for a business, but I set it up for my own personal accounts.

Works wonders for me, I love it. But probably someone who's not familiar with accounting wouldn't like the program. And it's a bit expensive.

At the end of the month I can print income statements and balance sheets. It lets me compare to other months and previous years to see me spending trends. I've been able to cut a lot of my expenses just by seeing what I really spend my money on.

Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:33 pm Subject:

For me it helps to just write out a budget type thing (the old fashioned way). I also use a calendar to keep track of when each bill is due. If I don't do that, I end up with late payments because I forget. I'm also doing Dave Ramsey's financial peace university which I have found really helpful for me since I tend to spend more than I should.

Guest · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:47 pm Subject:

simpleD budget is a free downloadable budget program. I have only been using it for a couple of weeks but so far I really like it.

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 6:38 am Subject:

I use Quicken - it is great because I have set up categories to follow my husbands convenience store stops - he is the biggest offender to our budget because he is out and about daily and I work out of the home. I can show him weekly what he has done and it makes him focus more on his habit of stopping for coffee, soda, candy bars and cookies - they all add up.

Guest · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:07 am Subject:

Make a budget and stick to it, you will find you have more money than you think. If you have to, use cash envelopes. Example: If you allow 100 dollars for food, put 100 in the envelope and only buy food with it. Sounds harsh but it works.