Please recommend personal budgeting software

cdgeorge

I would like some excellent advice on some personal finance software to budget with. It would be great if the software could work out compound interest, maybe keep track of stocks and shares, keep records of various accounts, make predictions etc.

If anyone could start with the cheapest software that would be great (or even freeware if I am lucky), but I am hoping it will be comprehensive nevertheless.

Thanks.

sgx.saint

£20 will net you Microsoft Money which you cant really go wrong with.

But I am sure as others will say, there are other alternatives too.

cdgeorge

Yes, I did some research and there really isn't anything out there to touch it now that Quicken is finishing it's support in the UK.

EagerLearner

I'd love to get MS Money - can anyone explain the main 5 or so benefits please? Right now I use the spreadsheet below, but for £20 I could always get MS Money if it's worth it...

DampProof

Well worth it... in fact I'd say it was a steal at twice the price.....

5 Main benefits ??? Where do you start !!! Its what you want it to be... even after a number of years using it I'm still finding new uses...

Dont delay buy today. You will wonder how you ever did without it.

sgx.saint

I have it installed, but because I am on a DMP and my finances are all over the place I find it a bit difficult to use, or more like pointless to use.

As I dont have any money lol

Does anyone on a DMP use money to manage their finances?

Jake'sGran

sgx.saint wrote:

£20 will net you Microsoft Money which you cant really go wrong with.

But I am sure as others will say, there are other alternatives too.

I have it on my computer. It came already installed but when I started to use it after a recommendation from this board something went wrong and I could not progress on it. It was suggested I uninstall and then reinstall from the disc I have but that does not work. It appears to be working then I get a message to say it cannot find the path whatever that means. I'm really disappointed. At the moment I just use a portfolio service to keep a record of investments and savings. The share/unit prices are updated every day. Not mad about it though (Trustnet). Seems a bit unstable, but the thought of transferring it all to FT or Share Centre is a put off.

cdgeorge

I have been searching the net via Google and there really is no competition out there for Microsoft Money for all the features it has to offer.

I notice also that the latest version of Microsoft Money 2007 seems to be only available to the US (I was going to download the 90 day trial)

'tis a shame - it always sounds naff to purchase something from Microsoft rather than have a dedicated company offering something instead. And we cannot include Quicken anymore because, as I said earlier, they are pulling out of the UK.

Anyone else out there tripped over a comprehensive personal finance package I am not aware of?

mowerman_2

Have been using Micrsoft money for last six years, now would not be without it, makes all budgeting so easy, and as soon as you make changes the results are there to see.
I have predicted my income and expenditure up untill 2009, whilst it takes some time initally to set up, the results are worth it, just have too put as much information as possable in.

RayWolfe

I have been using Quicken since about 1995 and am currently using Quicken 2000. I have been thinking about changing to MS Money since Quicken announced withdrawal from the UK. I understand that Money has annoying habits of constantly going online without being invited and, unlike Quicken, does not deal with unrealised gains/losses on investments.
Can anyone here point me to comparisons between the two and which years Money they think is best? As money is only around 20 quid, I suppose I could get it and try it but in the spirit of MSE, I guess I ought to ask before I buy.
Thanks
Ray

techno_geek

Money is very useful - as a student, I swear by it!

It doesn't have to keep going online, though... just check the box that says "work offline" and it won't bother you!

It's particularly useful if you have accounts with Nationwide as Money can download statements automatically without you having to sign into Online Banking.

I use it with all my bank accounts - it's a shame that Halifax doesn't allow you to download statements from its internet banking service (for the WebSaver account) but, thankfully, Money tracks money transferred from one account to another so you never lose track if you transfer between banks!

It also produces numerous graphs, and is very flexible when it comes to budgeting (though it takes a while to get everything just-so)...