I've tried a few pay/free programs but found that MS Money suites me best. However, I wait until tax season when it comes bundled free after MIR. MIRs haven't failed me yet.
I recently started using Quicken and I'm quite disappointed to this point, luckily I have 60 days to return it. Among my nitpicks are; when downloading transactions it won't show pending transactions even though that data is available to it, it does a poor job of classifying transactions (a purchase from a store with the word GROCERY sometimes comes up as a Utility), it doesn't differentiate a purchase and a payment to a credit card so it when you bring up a report it looks like I spent the same dollar twice, it does not have provisions to track my rewards points and doesn't tell me the due date or the minimum due for a card or bill. In all fairness these things for the most part can be dealt with (you can set up renaming rules, and manual recurring events, modify reports), but why should I have to do so much to do something to meet my reasonable expectations especially when a free web offering does them already.I probably wouldn't be as critical if "My Portfolio" from bank of america, had similar problems, but it doesn't. While not as robust, BoA's My Portfolio service, which is provided by Yodlee, does a much better job of guessing at transaction categories (which shows that even if the merchant code is wrong, they can somehow figure out that Wegman's Groceries, is a grocery store, but Quicken can't), shows my due dates and minimums, displays everything more logically, etc. They've been pushing Quicken for over a decade now, why is it so behind?
Yodlee is awesome because you can monitor all your accounts and even pay bills. It also gives you an expense analysis to show you where you are spending your money. The best part is that you can access it from anywhere and don't have to upgrade. It's not that well advertised but you can sign up at the link below <a class="user" href="http://moneycenter.yodlee.com">http://moneycenter.yodlee.com</a>
Actually this is a pretty good way to go these days... of course you need a decent inet connection and you are reliant on google, but nevertheless it works.... and thats what counts.!
nicolaihelMay 23, 2007Submitter
I'm a fan of the spreadsheets myself. Keep it simple.
bluknightMay 24, 2007
I've tried a few pay/free programs but found that MS Money suites me best. However, I wait until tax season when it comes bundled free after MIR. MIRs haven't failed me yet.
collinongMay 24, 2007
oops, found it. amazingly small link at the bottom of the page.
rockefellerMay 24, 2007
@ jus1haz2 "Don't do that"
kernelhappyMay 24, 2007
I recently started using Quicken and I'm quite disappointed to this point, luckily I have 60 days to return it. Among my nitpicks are; when downloading transactions it won't show pending transactions even though that data is available to it, it does a poor job of classifying transactions (a purchase from a store with the word GROCERY sometimes comes up as a Utility), it doesn't differentiate a purchase and a payment to a credit card so it when you bring up a report it looks like I spent the same dollar twice, it does not have provisions to track my rewards points and doesn't tell me the due date or the minimum due for a card or bill. In all fairness these things for the most part can be dealt with (you can set up renaming rules, and manual recurring events, modify reports), but why should I have to do so much to do something to meet my reasonable expectations especially when a free web offering does them already.I probably wouldn't be as critical if "My Portfolio" from bank of america, had similar problems, but it doesn't. While not as robust, BoA's My Portfolio service, which is provided by Yodlee, does a much better job of guessing at transaction categories (which shows that even if the merchant code is wrong, they can somehow figure out that Wegman's Groceries, is a grocery store, but Quicken can't), shows my due dates and minimums, displays everything more logically, etc. They've been pushing Quicken for over a decade now, why is it so behind?
sarora529May 25, 2007
Yodlee is awesome because you can monitor all your accounts and even pay bills. It also gives you an expense analysis to show you where you are spending your money. The best part is that you can access it from anywhere and don't have to upgrade. It's not that well advertised but you can sign up at the link below <a class="user" href="http://moneycenter.yodlee.com">http://moneycenter.yodlee.com</a>
ceusaMay 25, 2007
That Yodlee online application is a great online personal finance solution! I've been using it for a few weeks now and it is definitely "slick".
scifimaxMay 31, 2007
Any other apps for Mac besides Cash box that someone can recommend?Besides moneydance/quicken...
seletitDec 9, 2008
Try Simple Home Budget at <a class="user" href="http://www.home-budget-software.com">http://www.home-budget-software.com</a> - Free and Full versions. We tried few personal finance applications to family use and decided to build one ourselves.
vramasamyFeb 11, 2009
Try Money Manager EX for Mac. Still an experimental build though. <a class="user" href="http://www.codelathe.com">http://www.codelathe.com</a>
woodpainterDec 24, 2009
How about spreadsheet in Google Docs?
ronsiiDec 25, 2009
Actually this is a pretty good way to go these days... of course you need a decent inet connection and you are reliant on google, but nevertheless it works.... and thats what counts.!