Money 99, 2000, or 2001

[Bookworm]

I have MS Money 99 Standard, 2000 Deluxe, and 2001 Standard. If I need to, I can upgrade a Standard to a deluxe. I really don't care about anything into the XP/Vista era because of the system requirements.

I have never had or used a credit card, debit card, or checking account, and I never will. And I don't gamble on the stock market or use *any* kind of electronic transfer of funds.

I want a computer program to keep careful track of a debt free, credit free, interest free, cash budget. Of the three versions of MS Money I have, which one is best, not counting the features I won't use? Or would Quicken (what version?) be better?

[qviri]

Why not try them out and see which works best?

[Bookworm]

I probably will, but I was hoping someone else already had and they could tell me about it.

[RealBlackStuff]

I guess this would be right up your street: http://www.youneedabudget.com/

[hausman]

I realize this won't directly affect the OP, but for the record: Microsoft to discontinue MS Money

[BillMorrow]

i don't use credit cards other than amex..
i do have checking accounts..
i tried quicken about a year ago and it is way too complex..

if you are a cash only person then why bother with ANY accounting system..?

whats in your pocket is your cash position..

i would not want to create records if i were in your position..

[Bookworm]

> i would not want to create records

That's why I'm still thinking about using cash budget management on the Tandy Color Computer 3. Who can hack that?

> if i were in your position..

My "position" is called freedom. You should try it sometime. But now I'm going to get flamed for saying something "political" and the moderators will scream for censorship. Too bad people can't discuss these things like intelligent adults. But I guess that's why they need to be controlled. Ignorant and free can never be...

[qviri]

My "position" is called freedom. You should try it sometime. But now I'm going to get flamed for saying something "political" and the moderators will scream for censorship. Too bad people can't discuss these things like intelligent adults. But I guess that's why they need to be controlled. Ignorant and free can never be...

You act as though there is anything free about fiat currency.

Though I would be interested to learn what kind of freedoms I have signed away by keeping my earnings at a bank.

[Bookworm]

> You act as though there is anything free about fiat currency.

You're right, of course. But at least there is something physical about it. The next step downhill is when money only exists on paper, or a computer disk, etc. Now the amount of money - That is, the number of dollars, not the actual value - in use is no longer limited by how fast they can print it.

> Though I would be interested to learn what kind of freedoms I have signed away by
> keeping my earnings at a bank.

First, the right to privacy. All information about banking transactions is legaly considered to have been voluntarily submitted and does not require a search warrant to access. Don't buy anything politically incorrect (books, guns, long term storable food, anything else related to preparation & survival) with your checks or credit card.

Second, you've given up control of your own money. After "9/11" several terrorist groups had there financial assets frozen by the government. (Good timing, wasn't it? ) Recently, our security obsessed department of homeland surrender, Who strip search innocent people and can't stop half the fake guns & bombs they test there own system with off of planes, decided to label protesters as low level terrorists. They later retracted that, but it shows there attitudes. I assume I'm on some kind of watch list just because I read alternative news sites. Posting this will put me up a level. But at least, when they finally finish going off the deep end in response to some idiot walking right under their noses and doing everything I'm against, they won't be able to steal my so-called money.

I'm tempted to post a few kind words for big brother, but I'm probably in enough trouble already...

[qviri]

> You're right, of course. But at least there is something physical about it.

Yes, in the same way there's something physical about a pile of rocks, but absolutely everything that makes it useful is out of your control. With rocks, you can at least throw them at someone; a government changing laws of gravity to invalidate this possibility seems like a long shot.

> First, the right to privacy.

With regards to tracking and recording, I find that most people who attempt to stay off-record with something will more than happily tell others when they do it and why. You are a pretty good example. It's a nice principle, but pretty useless in real life.

Half of California must be on a watchlist if nonperishable foods and survival items are on a government watch list , and the same with other states and guns...

> Second, you've given up control of your own money.

Well, I've given up control of pieces of paper that the society and the government says are "money". If you're looking for maximum independence, you've given up control of your resources the moment you have accepted government-issued fiat money as payment.

I suppose freezing an account is a little simpler than raiding your pillows. But really, if a government wants to mess with you, taking away your money is the least they can do. A simple search warrant for "unpatriotic activity" or something blubbering like that distributed to stores and community centres in your area would be more effective, and that doesn't even require physical access to your house and person. (Which they could obtain if they so desire.)

What I'm attempting to get at is: if you're being paranoid, accepting paper currency as okay but basic banking as out of bounds seems to be an odd position.

[j-dawg]

I am willing to give up a little privacy and, if you see it as such, liberty, for convenience.

Call me the personification of Generation WWW.