Software to Track Expenses and Cash Flow - Need Advice

RWBRWB Icrontian
edited February 2007 in Science & Tech
Any free software or online resources that will help me keep track of my expenses and junk? Kinda curious what you guys use, I wanna know how much money I am spending on food, gas, utilities, etc... I over drafted for the first time in several months because of my GOD DAMNED ****ING DEADBEAT COUSIN!!!! AGH I HATE HIM!

I could have possibly avoided it if I were more careful, but looking at my expenses since I've moved I've only bought two things I didn't NEED and that's a trash can(could have just used the bag) and one of those rugs you put in front of the toilet(floor gets ****ing cold and the towel wasn't cutting it). Those were not quite enough to put me over, but combined with the couple times I went out for fast food I guess it does.

It sucks because I used to have a nice $600 to $800 cushion in my bank account when I decided I would never overdraft again. I probably won't see that money ever again, so I gotta come up with some way of getting it back.

Comments

  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    Excel.
  • CBCB Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Der Millionendorf- Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    I use excel, and I also keep several credit cards. Not so that I can spend lots of money that's not mine, but so that I can assign a different card to each expense catagory, and use the cards themselves as a budgeting tool. Might not work for everyone.
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    I use quicken.
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    Anyone got a template for excel I could use? GMAIL has a spreadsheet program I think I'll use.
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    I keep track of all of my expenses in Google spreadsheet. I like it because I can access it from anywhere I have an internet connection.

    My budget sheet kind of evolved over time into the form it's taken on now, so I can't really say that there's anything resembling a "template" that I can provide.
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    GHoosdum wrote:
    I keep track of all of my expenses in Google spreadsheet. I like it because I can access it from anywhere I have an internet connection.

    My budget sheet kind of evolved over time into the form it's taken on now, so I can't really say that there's anything resembling a "template" that I can provide.

    Maybe a screenshot (blurred important stuff) that can help me, because I've not done anything like this before so I have no idea what I am doing.
  • CBCB Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Der Millionendorf- Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    Here is a very basic template/example of an excel expense record. It would need some customization to fit your particular needs, of course.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    Column B: Incoming
    Column C: Outgoing
    Rows B-Whatever: Gain/loss types, including cars, food, bills, medical, paychecks, etcetera.

    End of column B, total that adds all values in the column.
    End of column C, total that adds all values in the column.

    Make another box with End-B (minus) End-C.

    Voila.
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    How do you do it with dates and all? I mean I don't spend all my money on the same day...
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    ...I also keep several credit cards. Not so that I can spend lots of money that's not mine, but so that I can assign a different card to each expense catagory, and use the cards themselves as a budgeting tool. Might not work for everyone.
    Might not work for everyone is correct. That's one quick way to sabotage a credit rating - several open credit cards. Even if the cards have zero or low balances, a lender or credit agency is likely to look at that as lending risk indicator.
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    I only use my sheet for the big expenses. If I pay a couple bucks for breakfast or lunch, it comes out of my cash. I've attached a screenshot of my generic monthly accounting sheet. It's divided into two accounts. One account carries my regular expenses (mostly my monthly expenses, though the bottom three in that category - newspaper, trash, and water - are more irregular bills). The bottom account is for my regular expenses that are either semiannual or annual bills: car insurance, property tax, home insurance. This is basically a self-escrow account. I keep both a 'budgeted' and 'actual' column in the sheet so that I can lay out budgeted numbers in advance and fill in the actuals as they occur, and that way I can see how well I kept to the budget in any given month. I have a new tab that I create using the same template each month.

    I'd be happy to answer any questions you have on the sheet or in general. :D
  • airbornflghtairbornflght Houston, TX Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    I have one that I made a while ago, I'll post it when I get home.
  • AnnesAnnes Tripped Up by Libidos and Hubris Alexandria, VA Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    I haven't used this yet, but I've heard good things about it.

    PearBudget
  • airbornflghtairbornflght Houston, TX Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    Here it is, nothing special, but it serves its purpose.
  • sfleurietsfleuriet Texas New
    edited February 2007
    I use a program called Just Checking. And its just that - Just a checkbook program. Add, subtract, set when things have cleared, etc.. I get an Actual Balance and a Bank Balance which is exactly all I need :)
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