Computer program or paper for budget?

[naupakamama]

Do you use a particular computer program for budgeting? We have always been very frugal but now we need to watch every penny and I want to track it. So what are your favorite methods?

Di

[Tradd]

No computer program here. I just use paper and pen.

Although if you'd like an already formatted spreadsheet that will do subtracting, etc. go here:

http://www.livingonadime.com/articles/budget-forms.html

Scroll down to the bottom.

[CarrieMF]

I print off my budget from my spreadsheet & then do it manually. I've always liked doing accounting stuff manually.

[Mama Dragon]

I couldn't do it without Microsoft Money. I tried, for 10 years, and only this past year when I had Money have I been able to track where the money goes and keep the bills paid.

[sweetfeet]

I use excel. I used to do paper but this is better to track spending.

[misseks]

I like jars of money in the cupboard with each one labelled.

[polyhymnia]

We use Quicken and I love it. We are very tech-oriented people though. My DP used to track in Excel with an elaborate spreadsheet he created but I prefer Quicken, for the charts and graphs. I guess I am visual.

I would not be happy with paper because it is too much work! Quicken downloads our transactions and does the math for us - there is a lot less room for error if you write the wrong number or misread it or put the wrong number in a calculator.