Personal Accounting Software
Dec 5, 2019 15:31:01 #
bobforman
Loc: Anacortes, Washington State
I always get good advice from this site so here's one more. I use Quicken 2019 for my personal finances. Now they're trying to nick me for another $50 per year for upgrades and updates. That's about what I paid for the original product at Costco. So, my question to my esteemed hoggers is: Is quicken the only source for these types of programs? Is there another program (like the demised MS Money) available? Or, is there a way around paying the ransom they seem to enjoy charging their customers.
Dec 5, 2019 15:40:54 #
Dec 5, 2019 16:01:28 #
No, Quicken is not the only one, but it is kind of the 'Gold Standard' for home and small business accounting software. Fifty dollars is not excessive for the upgrade, a lot of work goes into reviewing the changes in laws and incorporating that info into the software. I know it's comparing apples and oranges but we pay $900+ a year to upgrade out Income Tax software.
Dec 5, 2019 16:03:56 #
Check to see what enhancements have been made. Normally it is not worth the fee to upgrade and the changes/improvements are often not anything you will use. If what you have meets your needs there is no real need other than just the desire to stay current.
Dec 5, 2019 16:08:31 #
bobforman wrote:
I always get good advice from this site so here's ... (show quote)
I have used MoneyDance on my Mac for a bunch of years now, also available for Windows. BUT, not free.
Dec 5, 2019 16:16:48 #
I used to use Quicken but dumped it after I realized it was not as portable as a checkbook. It had gotten to be just a habit.
Dec 5, 2019 16:18:27 #
You sorta have 2 ways to manage your investments. Either do it yourself (by whatever means) or pay someone else Paying someone else will generate management fees of some kind. Thes fees ain't cheap, but for me the are worth it. So, what to do? If you are good enough to do it yourself and are happy with the results, Quicken is worth it, whatever the cost, because it costs less than menagement fees investment houses charge.
Dec 5, 2019 16:34:23 #
What resources does your bank offer & what do you use that may fit your needs? I bank with CHASE, do nearly all of my banking online & with my ATM card. I can answer any 'personal finance' question that I may have in a few online minutes at the bank's web site. And, there's an online site, mint.com, that can monitor your banking & generate various reports for you. Good luck in your quest.
Dec 5, 2019 16:35:28 #
Oie, I'm still using Quicken 2003.
It does everything I need.
It does everything I need.
Dec 5, 2019 16:49:09 #
bobforman
Loc: Anacortes, Washington State
I'm using a PC. I have a list of 30 or 40 stocks which would be a PITA to update, even weekly. What quicken said was that these updates would stopped unless I enroll in their update program and pay $50 per year. So my central concern is the stock price updating feature, lesser so the program itself.
Dec 5, 2019 17:12:27 #
bobforman wrote:
I'm using a PC. I have a list of 30 or 40 stocks which would be a PITA to update, even weekly. What quicken said was that these updates would stopped unless I enroll in their update program and pay $50 per year. So my central concern is the stock price updating feature, lesser so the program itself.
FWIW - moneydance has loads of plugins available, at little or no cost, most are no cost.
I manage my checkbook, bank accounts and investments using moneydance, keeping stock prices updated daily and automatically using the plugins.
No complaints.
Dec 5, 2019 17:15:30 #
Probably going to have to pay. I looked at quick books years ago and decided it wanted too much info on my computer ie bank details cheque book register with stocks etc - plus the set up time was huge. I went with Excel.....I know what it means,so does my accountant and Her Majesty's Tax Inspectors accepts it. (That was 20 years ago when PC fraud wasn't a huge issue) NOW I would be even more afraid to put all my 'nest eggs' on the PC.
Dec 6, 2019 06:43:20 #
I only upgrade when Quicken stops allowing online synching of accounts - usually every 3-4 years.
Dec 6, 2019 07:01:29 #
Dec 6, 2019 07:10:11 #
I've used Quicken since Nations Bank - now Bank of America, gave up supporting Managing Your Money. I'm so entangled with Quicken it would cost me a lot more in time and effort than $50.00 to switch to something else.
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