Money management software

DAS · Mon 30 Oct, 2006 00.58

I'm a big boy now and require some neat little system whereby I can tap in some figures and the wonderful PC will tell me how much I'm spending and how poor I'll be in a few months time.

I hate Microsoft Money more than words can express - it is overly complex, full of useless "helpful" features designed for "portfolio management" rather than the layman and the screen is so crowded it really is unbelieveable.

Do any of you know of any good alternatives to Microsoft Money?

marksi · Mon 30 Oct, 2006 07.57

I'd be interested in alternatives to Microsoft Money too. I used it for about two years and was happy with it but then the Northern Bank was taken over by Danske Bank and I can no longer download statements in a format Microsoft Money can import. This seems to be more an issue with MM not keeping up to date with standard formats than with the bank being difficult.

Neil Jones · Mon 30 Oct, 2006 10.14

http://www.mechcad.net/products/acemoney/ is available in a Lite version which only supports one account. You can Google for Acemoney 2.1.9 which is the last freeware version that supports multiple accounts.

marksi · Mon 30 Oct, 2006 10.46

Seems to have the same import options as Microsoft Money - "Download and import information from on-line banks in QIF and OFX formats". I can only download XML or CSV files.

MarkN · Mon 30 Oct, 2006 12.23

marksi wrote:I'd be interested in alternatives to Microsoft Money too. I used it for about two years and was happy with it but then the Northern Bank was taken over by Danske Bank and I can no longer download statements in a format Microsoft Money can import. This seems to be more an issue with MM not keeping up to date with standard formats than with the bank being difficult.

CSV to OFX converter:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~csmale/mt2ofx/en/

It apparently supports the Danske Bank CSV format, and Northern Bank's site appears to be using the same software as Danske Bank's service. So it might work.

marksi · Mon 30 Oct, 2006 12.26

I did try that before and it didn't work, but maybe it's been updated. Will have a go when I get a chance. Ta.

MarkN · Mon 30 Oct, 2006 16.36

marksi wrote:I did try that before and it didn't work, but maybe it's been updated. Will have a go when I get a chance. Ta.

Try it with this file (save it to the program directory: C:\Program Files\MT2OFX\):
http://www.gorillaenterprises.co.uk/upl ... nk-CSV.vbs

Once you have done that:

Click "Options", then "Scripts" (in the options dialogue box), then "New" (in the scripts dialogue box). Select the file.

Then, back in the Scripts window: Click "Update". Click "Move Up" until it is at the top of the list, if it isn't already. Click "OK" to close the scripts box. Click "Close" to close the Options box. Then try to convert a file.

marksi · Tue 31 Oct, 2006 12.50

Mark,

Many many thanks. It wasn't quite as straightforward as your post suggested but having played around with some other settings it didn't seem happy with I've now got it converting my statements, which I didn't think I would manage to do.

Thanks again!

tillyoshea · Wed 01 Nov, 2006 11.05

Going back to the original question - how about this? It's new and untested, but could be fun.

Neil Jones · Wed 01 Nov, 2006 22.29

tillyoshea wrote:Going back to the original question - how about this? It's new and untested, but could be fun.

The last time I used something branded as Tesco Software (aside from the internet access), it was a rebranded something else. Their AntiVirus software is a repackaged F-Secure. And it caused no end of issues on the customer's machine as well.

Therefore it would be safe to assume that Tesco Personal Finance would probably be a rebranded Quicken or Money or something like that.