millerx Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 I'm looking to shore up my family's budget and was wondering if there were any recommendations for some free, simple to use, home budget software programs out there. Maybe something that also has a debt reduction feature... Help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 I've been asked to check out Quicken's free online program. I'm skeptical, at least initially, as I believe it asks for all of your account numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaP'N GRuNGe Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 I use an Excel spreadsheet. It's more of a schedule of monthly bills than a true budget. I get everything down to an amounts after recurring bills and savings and the leftover is X amount we can spend a week on everything else (groceries, gas, clothing, other out of pocket stuff). We really should budget that piece of it as well but we don't yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millerx Posted January 14, 2009 Author Share Posted January 14, 2009 I use an Excel spreadsheet. It's more of a schedule of monthly bills than a true budget. I get everything down to an amounts after recurring bills and savings and the leftover is X amount we can spend a week on everything else (groceries, gas, clothing, other out of pocket stuff). We really should budget that piece of it as well but we don't yet. I saw a "Debt Reduction Calculator for Excel 1.0" on download.com that's free. It sounds like it has some helpful tools to budget and find different techniques/ways for eliminating debt the quickest. You might want to take a look at that. I know I was, but wanted to check here first because of all the big brains that populate this site. Anyone else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 I use an Excel spreadsheet. It's more of a schedule of monthly bills than a true budget. I get everything down to an amounts after recurring bills and savings and the leftover is X amount we can spend a week on everything else (groceries, gas, clothing, other out of pocket stuff). We really should budget that piece of it as well but we don't yet. Exactly what I have except I've priced gasoline, groceries and other fairly regular spending, etc so that the residue or leftover truly is disposable income. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicCEO Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I've recently been exploring web applications for home finance. I settled on Buxfer.com because it allows me to manually add transactions through my phone when I spend money, and then download statements from my bank and reconcile them. I like to keep tight track of my accounts. Most of the other web apps like mint.com, yodlee.com, and quicken's free web app will allow you to download transactions from the bank and tag them so you can track where your money is being spent. That's good for most people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Cid Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I don't go the free route, I forked over the cash for MS Money. I have for about 10 years now. It allows for pretty much real time updates of all my accounts, has a debt reduction planner (it actually nags at you if you don't use it) and some not half bad reports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I've recently been exploring web applications for home finance. I settled on Buxfer.com because it allows me to manually add transactions through my phone when I spend money, and then download statements from my bank and reconcile them. I like to keep tight track of my accounts. Most of the other web apps like mint.com, yodlee.com, and quicken's free web app will allow you to download transactions from the bank and tag them so you can track where your money is being spent. That's good for most people. You're cool with the security of these applications? Is Buxfer free? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puzzle head Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 mint.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicCEO Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 You're cool with the security of these applications? Is Buxfer free? Free. And it doesn't actually store your bank logins unless you specifically choose to have it do so (I don't). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Free. And it doesn't actually store your bank logins unless you specifically choose to have it do so (I don't). How about credit card and other account numbers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicCEO Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 How about credit card and other account numbers? I don't think it knows my account numbers. I could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexgaddis Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Checkbook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Cid Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Checkbook You still use checks? That's what debit cards are for. Even when I have to write a check I do it electronically. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaP'N GRuNGe Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 You still use checks? That's what debit cards are for. Even when I have to write a check I do it electronically. I use online bill pay and debit card for everything. The only check I write monthly is for rent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmarc117 Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 i use this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millerx Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 i use this I don't think you're maximizing your full potential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 mint.com +1 and Daveramsey.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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