Ask The Readers – What Software or Tools Do You Use to Manage Your Finances?

By glblguy

Ask The Readers

A friend of mine and I where having a discussion yesterday about what software/tools we use to manage and keep track of our finances. Based on a previous recommendation by me, he was using SimpleD Budget. I had used it for a while, but decided to go with a custom spreadsheet I developed instead.

I enjoy the flexibility and ease of entry I have using Excel. He was considering going to MS Money or Quicken, which I have also used in the past.

It did make me wonder, what does everyone else use? What software or tools do you use to manage your finances?

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10 Responses (including trackbacks) to “Ask The Readers – What Software or Tools Do You Use to Manage Your Finances?”

  1. ChristianPF Says:
    August 8th, 2007 at 12:56 pm

    This has been such a frustrating topic for me, because I have tried the big ones (quicken and money) – but neither would download my transactions from my bank properly.

    My beef with PF software is that if I am going to use it, it must provide me valuable data AND save me time. I found that since neither of these programs could provide me with a FULLY automated solution – I bailed.

    This was over two years ago, so maybe the newer versions are better – I would love to hear what others are using…

  2. glblguy Says:
    August 9th, 2007 at 7:30 am

    Thanks Bob. Are you using anything right now?

    I’m really surprised more readers haven’t replied.

  3. Erin Says:
    August 9th, 2007 at 3:06 pm

    I’m keeping it simple right now, I just use some Excel spreadsheets.

  4. glblguy Says:
    August 9th, 2007 at 4:58 pm

    Thanks Erin, appreciate you jumping in :-)

  5. paidtwice Says:
    August 11th, 2007 at 2:16 am

    I use PearBudget right now. My finances aren’t that complicated. lol

  6. MITBeta Says:
    August 11th, 2007 at 10:45 am

    I have a love/hate relationship with Quicken. I like how it works, but hate being a slave to a company that uses proprietary software, which forces me to continue to pay them even if some features don’t work right. They also have updates from time to time that can reduce the functionality of the program. Further, they actually charge all the banks that use the Quicken download format for the right to use that format.

    I’m a linux and OpenSource fan and I dislike the very nature of Quicken. But I have 10 years’ worth of financial data in there.

    I’m am going to try out GnuCash soon, but only if it can properly import all of those 10 years of data…

  7. glblguy Says:
    August 11th, 2007 at 12:33 pm

    @paidtwice – Just downloaded it and going to give it a try.

    @MITBeta – I’m with you, not a fan of proprietary software either and like you a big open source fan. Quicken is really powerful, but I just find it a bit tedious, especially the initial set-up.

  8. Marty Says:
    October 3rd, 2007 at 1:30 pm

    Has anyone tried Mvelopes? Our finances aren’t very complicated, and we just want to see where the money goes. Is Mvelopes too sophisticated for this? What advice would you have? Thanks.

  9. Micki Says:
    October 13th, 2007 at 12:56 pm

    I’d loved to try Mvelopes but my credit union has a second layer of security (type in a four letter word which changes each time you log on). I’ve run through two trial periods with Mvelopes and they still can’t get past it. Good security but frustrating when trying to budget better. Anybody else had any luck with them in this regard? THanks

  10. kevin Says:
    February 26th, 2008 at 10:02 am

    http://www.moneycenter.yodlee.com – I don’t know if this is exactly what you are talking about, but this and http://www.mint.com are both good for tracking finances. I also use an excel spreadsheet, but I am trying to transfer to yodlee so that I can access anywhere and not just on my laptop.

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