Money Management Software

[2cents]

I know I'm not alone when I say that this recession has really made me realize how out of whack my personal finances are. With several credit cards, savings accounts, checking accounts, and so on, my income--and especially my expenses--were spread so thin that I hardly knew where the money was going. And I really didn't know how fast all of those "harmless" little purchases were added up.

So, in an effort to see an image in my ever-cloudy financial crystal ball, I started researching money management software. I found more options than I knew what to do with--almost enough to stalemate me into indecision. One thing is for sure, though, I sure as heck wasn't going to pay for a software that was supposed to save me money. After all, that's money I could be spending on a Starbucks latte, or a Sausage McBiscuit, or a Diet Coke at the supermarket, or...

I see that Intuit has a bare-bones Quicken option available on the web, as well as Mint. Have any of you fine posters had any luck with online personal finance software? Anything you've completely fallen in love with--or happily broken up with? I'm leaning toward the Quicken, especially since it allows me to see all my credit cards, loans, and accounts at the same time. It also gives me it's take on my financial situation (i.e. "Currently living beyond your means". Thanks. Like I didn't know!).

If any of you have found a software that also provides handy tips to raising your own money tree (I'd actually settle for one that bears fruit in the form of diapers or wipes), please let me know!!

[ClassyLady]

Quicken is one of the best and the easiest to learn of all of them out there on the market. I have looked at several programs and they are most all very complicated. for the adverage user I recommend Quicken.

[2cents]

I really do like it so far--especially the trending section. With so many accounts, I really had no idea exactly how much we were spending eating out or how much I've purchased from Amazon.com. Such an eye opener.