Favorite programs for budgeting

[mommyofshmoo]

Hey y'all.

I'm wondering what the simplest way to budget is. I've done quickbooks but never seem to get it right, then I get overwhelmed and stop.

Should I just use a plain old spreadsheet? I like that quickbooks does budget analyzing, so maybe I should just try harder with that. My old computer didn't work all that well with quickbooks- it got weird bugs. Maybe this mac will do it better.

My bank also has an online tool, but I find it's a bit slow and sometime the system goes down.

Looking forward to reading.

[corhorvath]

For my family, I'm using an Excel spreadsheet. I pay bills twice a month so I have what's scheduled for payment for each period. Then, I give us each our allowance (equal parts to me and my husband and double the allowance for the house and kids). I budget in a small amount of money to go into an emergency fund and if there's anything left over (like if my husband works overtime) it goes to a credit card or the emergency fund.

This thread--"helpful links to calculators, worksheets, and forms to help you manage your finances "--has a ton of links.

[GoddessKristie]

I'm old fashioned. I use a pen and paper. I have a notebook that I keep all my info in, and I have my budget worked out to weekly allottments. I feel more connected to it when I've written it with my own hands, but I do keep a spreadsheet copy of it just in case my notebook is lost or damaged. When a bill comes in it gets opened and the part you send back goes in the envelope and the whole thing goes into a file folder labled for the week it needs to be mailed (weeks 1-4). On the front of each file folder I have a list written accross the top of each bill that goes in that folder and when it gets paid I write the date it was mailed or paid, amount, and check number or online bill pay confirmation number. It serves as an exact record of of my bills in case I ever need to refer to it.

[Mama Dragon]

I just use Word

Write out a list of bills and thier amounts and then organize them by due dates/paydays. I pay everything but rent online, so that makes it a bit easier. I over budget for food just in case we want to eat out or have a special at home meal.

When shopping, I keep all reciepts in my purse and at the end of the day, I balance the checkbook against my account online. Then I go into the word file and take away from my budget for what I used that day. (30 gas, 50 food kind of thing) Doing it daily is my key to making it work.

[mommyofshmoo]

Originally Posted by GoddessKristie

I'm old fashioned. I use a pen and paper. I have a notebook that I keep all my info in, and I have my budget worked out to weekly allottments. I feel more connected to it when I've written it with my own hands, but I do keep a spreadsheet copy of it just in case my notebook is lost or damaged. When a bill comes in it gets opened and the part you send back goes in the envelope and the whole thing goes into a file folder labled for the week it needs to be mailed (weeks 1-4). On the front of each file folder I have a list written accross the top of each bill that goes in that folder and when it gets paid I write the date it was mailed or paid, amount, and check number or online bill pay confirmation number. It serves as an exact record of of my bills in case I ever need to refer to it.

This is a leve of organization tat I could never hope to aspire to.

I do know the value of paper, though. It feels more real sometimes than a screen.

[mommyofshmoo]

Originally Posted by Synthea™

I just use Word

Write out a list of bills and thier amounts and then organize them by due dates/paydays. I pay everything but rent online, so that makes it a bit easier. I over budget for food just in case we want to eat out or have a special at home meal.

When shopping, I keep all reciepts in my purse and at the end of the day, I balance the checkbook against my account online. Then I go into the word file and take away from my budget for what I used that day. (30 gas, 50 food kind of thing) Doing it daily is my key to making it work.

I'm finding lately that doing stuff every day is key. I've been cleaning every day too and it feels so much less overwhelming than waiting till everything is all oer the place. Ditto with money, really.