Whats the best free software for creating a personal budget?

Question

I would like a program that lets you divide your money into categories before bills are paid, so there is money available for each bill. ( I know quicken and money let you pick categories after you enter each bill, thats not what I need)

Answer 1

Simple Home Money Management 2006.6
Chrysanth Accountant 98 1.65

Answer 2

Both Quicken and Money DO offer budgeting capabilities, which are different than just categorizing your spending and income. But you don't actually need any particular software - you can do budgeting pretty easily on your own using Excel or another spreadsheet program, or even Notepad or a piece of paper.

I used Excel to set up my budget, then copied it into Money and use that for tracking the information. Why? Because it connects to my bank for me and downloads all the information. It saves me a lot of time on calculating things and entering information, etc, etc.

But doing your budget is really as easy as setting up a few high level categories, listing the amount available for each, and then entering everything you spend. Add it up and you know what you have left. No magic to it.

Answer 3

Try http://www.mvelopes.com/ My wife and I used it for years and loved it. The app was free, the service was cheap. It works like the old envelope budgeting: you cash your paycheck and put the money into different envelopes - groceries, gas, rent, etc. When the money in that envelope is gone, you stop spending.

Answer 4

www.cuna.org is a good website that may give you the information you're looking for. They have a lot of information for consumers in the personal finance tips section.

Answer 5

That's a tough one...wells fargo online offers a similiar service to what your talking about.

Answer 6

Try your bank.....ours has it free.