Software for keeping track of savings and investments

LannieDuck

Hi all,

I'm looking for a piece of software to help me keep track of my savings and investments. Between my OH and I, we have a couple of current accounts, a couple of savings accounts, a mortgage account, ISAs, savings certificates, and some of the above for our daughter.

I've previously used Quicken to track it because it was recommended by my father, but I found it far too detailed. Whilst he enjoyed tracking every transaction, I really just want something I can update once a month.

At present I'm using Excel. I just wondered whether anyone has a recommendation for something better?

Thank you

[Deleted User]

I use Excel, and update the spreadsheets I maintain about once every couple of weeks. I'd say if you are only updating once a month, stick to Excel. Other software is probably too detailed for your purposes, especially if you don't want to track all your transactions.

kharne

I find excel works perfectly for me. I have a headline sheet that I update every month with amounts for all my accounts. I also use it to keep a log of my social lending loans and my S&S ISA investments. The only further level of detail I use is an Android App called expense manager, which I can track my spending with and convert to a .csv file.

srcandas

lannie try searching for

spreadsheet template investments bank accounts

There are many free offerings that will enhance your excel experience.

ps. Might be good to choose a generic one so if you lose excel when you upgrade kit (and don't want to pay the Excel license fee) it will still work.

:beer:

jimjames

There are various bits of software like Quicken, I still use MS Money 2000 for mine but frustrated at the limitations for tracking & reporting on investment performance. I'm working on writing some software to do the job and if I get something suitable I'll see if it can be shared.

Totton

If you are using a Windows machine then the best I have found is an old copy of Money 2003, I use the one with the Financial Suite but any of the later MS Money packages that include the investment tracking element should be fine. The only downside is that they no longer provide automatic updating of investments but provided you don't hold too many then it is no time at all to manually update the fund/stock prices.

MS Money still accepts downloaded statements from the major players that provide them, I download in OFX format no problem from Barclays and NatWest. You can get a copy of MS MOney via eBay for next to nothing if you can use one of the basic packages rather than needing the investment part.

I've looked at a lot of the newer packages but none quite matches the old MS Money, if you want something newer then take a look at MoneyDance, Money or iBank if on a Mac.

HTH,
Mickey

Linton

Another vote for MSMoney. There are excellent facilities for both money management and investments and you can download data into Excel for anything complicated. My retirement was planned using the "Lifetime planner". A real pity its no longer supported, but it still works fine.

It is still possible to download share and fund prices - set up a dummy portfolio in ft.com and use the software described here

le_loup

Here's a third vote for MS Money.
Works in all versions of windows.
Very cheap.
Excellent tools.

jimjames

Totton wrote: »

If you are using a Windows machine then the best I have found is an old copy of Money 2003, I use the one with the Financial Suite but any of the later MS Money packages that include the investment tracking element should be fine. The only downside is that they no longer provide automatic updating of investments but provided you don't hold too many then it is no time at all to manually update the fund/stock prices.

Microsoft have been saying for some time that prices will no longer be updated in MS Money. Strangely mine are still being updated well over a year after they said it would stop. Fingers crossed it continues!

I think the number of old versions mentioned here that are still working and running fine shows why Microsoft found there was no longer a market for it - no-one ever needed to upgrade!

Linton

jimjames wrote: »

Microsoft have been saying for some time that prices will no longer be updated in MS Money. Strangely mine are still being updated well over a year after they said it would stop. Fingers crossed it continues!

I think the number of old versions mentioned here that are still working and running fine shows why Microsoft found there was no longer a market for it - no-one ever needed to upgrade!

IIRC the final bug fix upgrade turned off the facility. If you missed out on that, or re-installed an original version prior to Money 2005, you were OK.

grey_gym_sock

i use hand-written notes on blank pieces of paper.

though i'm considering upgrading to ruled paper.