Personal bookkeeping books?

praxisizer

I'm looking for a decent book on bookkeeping for personal finances. My aim is to record all my expenditure and income on my computer, reconcile my accounts (every month I suppose), and figure out where I'm wasting money.

Most of the books I found on amazon concentrated on a specific piece of computer software, like Quickbooks. I'd prefer a generic book that concentrates on principles and good practice rather than details of one specific piece of software (though discussion of the way accounting software typically works is fine). This is partly because I'll be using GnuCash, and I don't think there are many books on that.

What I'm looking for, ideally, is something short and to the point that doesn't try to avoid important concepts and practices. I know almost nothing about accounting, but I'm numerate and competent with computers, and don't need to be mollycoddled. I suppose it doesn't have to be specifically for personal finance, if it's short and to the point and covers what's needed for that.

There are a lot of books on this out there, and probably many of them are not so great, so advice from people here could be really valuable. Especially so because it's hard to google for tips on good accounting books, because "books" in this context tends to just turn up pages relating to "book" in the sense of "account book".

So what have you read? Good or bad?

All experiences, good and bad, very much appreciated!

praxisizer

Since there has been such a flood of replies, here's one I've found that looks OK:

Joel J Lerner; "Bookkeeping and Accounting" (Schaum's Easy Outlines); ISBN 978-0-07-142240-6

It's an abridged version of a longer book, and it's about my level: < 150 pages, very basic, doesn't go too far into businessy stuff, but does explain the kinds of concepts and terminology I assume I'll run into using bookkeeping software.

I'd still prefer something targetted at personal finance that wasn't too heavy on the Quickbooks specifics...

Debt_Free_Chick

praxisizer wrote: »

Since there has been such a flood of replies, here's one I've found that looks OK:

Joel J Lerner; "Bookkeeping and Accounting" (Schaum's Easy Outlines); ISBN 978-0-07-142240-6

It's an abridged version of a longer book, and it's about my level: < 150 pages, very basic, doesn't go too far into businessy stuff, but does explain the kinds of concepts and terminology I assume I'll run into using bookkeeping software.

To be honest, that appears to be a wholly business accounting book - and its written by an American so the terms could be different.

As personal "accounts" are simple income & expenditure statements (list of money in, list of money out) the overwhelming majority of that book is going to be of no use/interest for you.

I'd still prefer something targetted at personal finance that wasn't too heavy on the Quickbooks specifics...

I guess you've been through the gnucash tutorial?

What is it you feel you don't understand or need to know?

timnicebutdim_2

I don't know if this might help but here is some free e-learning modules on the AAT unit 30 - introduction to accountancy from opentutiton.com. It covers all the basic princples of bookkeeping and I used it together with a textbook when studying at the certificate level....

http://opentuition.com/aat/aat30.php

jasonknown

praxisizer wrote: »

I'm looking for a decent book on bookkeeping for personal finances. My aim is to record all my expenditure and income on my computer, reconcile my accounts (every month I suppose), and figure out where I'm wasting money.

Most of the books I found on amazon concentrated on a specific piece of computer software, like Quickbooks. I'd prefer a generic book that concentrates on principles and good practice rather than details of one specific piece of software (though discussion of the way accounting software typically works is fine). This is partly because I'll be using GnuCash, and I don't think there are many books on that.

What I'm looking for, ideally, is something short and to the point that doesn't try to avoid important concepts and practices. I know almost nothing about accounting, but I'm numerate and competent with computers, and don't need to be mollycoddled. I suppose it doesn't have to be specifically for personal finance, if it's short and to the point and covers what's needed for that.

There are a lot of books on this out there, and probably many of them are not so great, so advice from people here could be really valuable. Especially so because it's hard to google for tips on good accounting books, because "books" in this context tends to just turn up pages relating to "book" in the sense of "account book".

So what have you read? Good or bad?

All experiences, good and bad, very much appreciated!

I was looking for a decent book on bookkeeping and found 'Bookkeeping Made Simply: The Boogles Story' by Lisa Newton. This is a well written illustrated short book at only £8! They do other in the series too. For details, check out boogles.co.uk

jasonknown

I was looking for a decent book on bookkeeping and found 'Bookkeeping Made Simple: The Boogles Story' by Lisa Newton. This is a well written illustrated short book at only £8! They do other in the series too. For details, check out: boogles.co.uk

JohalaReewi

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

As personal "accounts" are simple income & expenditure statements (list of money in, list of money out) the overwhelming majority of that book is going to be of no use/interest for you.

Technically, money in-money out is Receipts and Payments. Income and Expenditure is something a little different.

You should be able to get on with GnuCash without too much personal accounting knowledge. Just choose the 'simple' setup (From memory this is just a cash account) instead of the default setting (way too confusing!!). You can easily add extra accounts as needs arise.

praxisizer

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

To be honest, that appears to be a wholly business accounting book - and its written by an American so the terms could be different.

I don't think there can be any such thing. The target is audience is people using it for business, yes.

As personal "accounts" are simple income & expenditure statements (list of money in, list of money out) the overwhelming majority of that book is going to be of no use/interest for you.

Certainly true that simple money in /out will be most of it, but I'd be surprised if I don't come across a small flood of terminology and concepts in GnuCash (have only entered some opening balances so far, and already found I needed to know some stuff I didn't know when I started). Just knowing enough to know which knobs, bells, and whistles are and are not of interest to me would be useful. Behind my request is also a desire to make is slightly more interesting so that I might actually do it, and the thought that knowing a little about bookkeeping might come in handy for work later on.

I guess you've been through the gnucash tutorial?

Thanks -- found it, didn't read it yet.

What is it you feel you don't understand or need to know?

That's one of the things I don't know