Best Budgeting Program Available?

myadvice

My wife & I have a fairly large amount of debt...which we would like to pay off. Are there certain budgeting programs that are better than others? Where would you begin to look for the best program?

Rafter

If you think a budgeting programme is the answer do a search on Quicken or Microsoft Money on Google or Ebay.

Not much to choose between them.

You may find some useful free software of excel based templates around.

The software is only part of the solution. The key is working out what is left at the end of each month after regular bills. Then try to stick to a budget each week for food, entertaining, clothes and other stuff and stick to it - saving up when you need other stuff and recognising if you spend more, your debt free date keeps moving back.

Good luck though and take a look at the debt free and other boards for tips about where to make savings and prioritising which debts to pay off first.

R.

japitts

We use Micro$oft Money - as much as I hate recommending anything with the Micro$oft name on it, it does work very well. Takes a bit of figuring out and getting used, to but once done....

Much the same as any other "powerful" software I guess.

D4WNO

You can download a 6 week free trial of Microsoft Money 2007 so you can try before you buy and see if you like it

jonathon

myadvice wrote:

My wife & I have a fairly large amount of debt...which we would like to pay off. Are there certain budgeting programs that are better than others? Where would you begin to look for the best program?

by programs do you mean software or companys that help if the latter try payplan.

RayWolfe

D4WNO wrote:

You can download a 6 week free trial of Microsoft Money 2007 so you can try before you buy and see if you like it

I think you will find that 2007 is a US version. They don't sell in the UK anymore. 2005 was their latest version ... but that works, so why not.

D4WNO

Ah thanks for that, was actually going to try it myself so make sure I get the 2005 version

EagerLearner

Amazon have the UK version (2005) for around £25.

But the US version is very good - I have that and it's 2007 version, only drawback is not being able to access online accounts through it, which is ok with me as I don't want to give Microsoft *that* much access.

I then access online accounts via my bank as normal, yet have the latest software.

You may also find my spreadsheet below of some help in terms of 'shaving off pounds' from your 'frills' spending...