There was a time when I used to use Microsoft Money to manage my checking account. Part of me just loves tracking numbers, whether it is personal finance or something else. However I just never seemed to keep up with it. I don’t know, maybe it got boring or I just go my attention diverted to something else, but it never really worked out for me.

It didn’t matter that it would connect to my bank online and download everything. It didn’t matter that I could see all kinds of really cool graphs and charts. I just couldn’t keep up with it. To be honest, I don’t even manage my checkbook anymore. I just use my debit card and between keeping what I’ve spent in my head and checking my balance online, that pretty much sums up my personal finance accounting practices.

I know, I know, it isn’t a great habit to get into and it has bitten me more than once. Perhaps I should give it another try. The question is, do I go with a simple paper budget or go with a software package (I still have my copy of Money). What do you use to keep track of your finances?

budget, budgeting, finance, Personal Finance