What is the point of using Quicken, Microsoft Money or any other personal financial management software?
They help you keep track of what you are spending your money on and what you are not spending it on. But for the most part they fail miserably at one of the most important things that we are told over and over again - your goals. They just don't 'get you anyplace'. They are all centered on just tracking what you are having, not where you want to go. They do have some small goal setting features, but nothing that really helps the layman set a goal and that becomes the center and complete objective of the financial picture. If there is I have completely missed it - and I look at a lot of financial management software.
What tools do you use or how do you manage your money so everything you do is goal based?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Really, simplicity is best. I love using Microsoft Excel. It is easy to use and you don’t have to pay any extra fee for a dedicated program. As to goals, the many functions of excel allow you calculate whatever you want to, really. It doesn’t take a whole lot of work and all it requires is a basic understanding of the program.
Love “stopsavingnothing” — that is great! I try to save, its been hard, but at least i don't use those plastic things. I believe in living within one's means. I don't use quicken and financial management software makes me yawn, but I do have someone who advises me and I listen to Dave Ramsey.
I use good ol’ fashioned pen and paper. I get one piece of paper and write down all of my bills, their payments, their due dates and my goals…then I work towards that goal.
Thank you for this topic post; you just jumpstarted my brain for a new blog post on my own blog about how to get from here to there since I write about everything with finances.
Glad I could help Nicole. When you get it written be sure to come back here and post a new comment and link. I have no problem getting you some link love 🙂