Budget software?

[Thetokengirl]

Can anyone recommend a good budget software program? I've looked at You need a budget but find it quite cumbersome.
Ideally I'd like something that you can use on the pc and iPhone and is free

I always recommend the free download Microsoft Money Plus because I've used it myself for many years and have found it a great way to keep track of spending, current and future. Once set up with accounts and direct debits all I do is enter my receipts at the end of each day, run a few reports & balance the accounts each month. Probably won't work on the i-Phone.

I still use the older MSM

It also tracks regular and forthcoming bills, such as direct debits and standing orders, and regular receipts, such as pay and benefits. However due to some kind of fault it runs slowly with them.

Oddly, you can re-install the same software with the same key (I have done this when I get a new PC) and it doesn't appear to track multiple installations. It crops up on fleabay from time to time. MS stopped developing or supporting it outside the US perhaps because they can't be bothered learning about RoW bank and tax practices.

I haven't wanted to change to the free one as I suspect it will be worse different.

Thetokengirl - I did a thread on this recently, although it was specifically software available for the Mac.

I love YNAB but it's not the cheapest out there - it does integrate with the iPhone reasonably well. You can trial it for free before you buy it, with no transaction limit and a good time period for really getting your head around it.

Moneydance was one of the ones that got a thumbs up - runs on Windows and integrates with the iPhone.

Thanks everyone, I'll have a look at these.
Trilpot I have got the free trial of YNAB, but found it confusing and you need wi-fi to sync which means I can't do it at work. So, before forking out money for it I would like to see if there are any better options.

Sorry, tribpot!

It's true you do, thetokengirl but typically what you do is record transactions on your phone as the day goes on, and then sync it to your home machine at night - are you using the same machine at home and work so are wanting to sync during the day?

Understanding the way YNAB structures things does require some time, but they have a fantastic amount of training materials and interactive sessions you can take part in to get you going. However, that's really if you want to use the software for serious budgeting - if you're more wanting to keep track day-to-day there are other products out there, or plain old Excel of course.

In fact, I actually found a DVD with what I think is a Windows accounting package on today as I was clearing out the spare room, I literally have no memory of buying it :) But if you would like it, I'm happy to post it rather than Freecycle it.

Thanks Tribpot
I had a look at the suggestions last night and had another play with YNAB.
I have decided to trial YNAB for the free period. I did like the ease that transactions could be put onto the iPhone, so that swung it for me.
I have used excel spreadsheets previously, but my main problem is trying to get DH to engage. He leaves it all to me, which is fine when I'm keeping track of DDs, etc but trying to keep on top of all his receipts was the problem.
So, I've downloaded the app onto his phone too and he has promised to use it, so let's see how it goes!

Thetokengirl, I assume you've read YNAB's article on keeping multiple devices in sync - I think it sounds more faffy than it needs to if you're just using the iPhone to input transactions as they happen, i.e. you don't need a real-time view of the budget whilst you're on the move.

Top 10 questions from new YNABers is well worth watching; I think it mentions that there's no need to track every single purchase - if you want to assign 10 quid to random spends you can do, which may help cut down on what you need to input from your DH's spending. Good luck!

Thanks Tribpot
I hadn't read about keeping multiple mobile devices in sync, but that's exactly what I did last night It wasn't too faffy.
I had to nag DH to put his spending in last night as he hadn't done it in the day. I feel that for this to work, he needs to do it as he goes along. He did seem pleased with how easy it was to do, so hopefully he'll start doing it. He now also knows exactly how much he has to spend till the end of the month, which should help. I spent about 1 1/2 hours on the PC version last night, getting au fait with it and am feeling a lot happier about using it now.
Thanks for all your help.

oh, and I'll look at the top ten questions at home. Can't look at them here (at work) as You tube is banned.

No worries. And yup, he probably does need to do it as he's going along. You could compromise and say anything that's done by debit card (i.e. will appear on online banking) doesn't need to be entered, but almost certainly (at least, it is in my spending) this is where the 'couple of quid' here or there' is going - buy lunch in Boots and get a couple of other things at the same time, that kind of thing. He can always put a v short note in alongside the transaction to say it was lunch + whatever, so you can split the transaction if you need to.

Some of the slight oddness about the YNAB method is that people in the US seem to get paid in a different way to us, so fortnightly pay'checks' are much more commonplace than here. As one of the suggested goals is to have a buffer built up of a month's wages, this can be done by virtue of the fact we tend to get paid at the end of the month, so it's very easy to say 'voila, no spend for 2 days and then the whole lot rolls over to next month'. A few people have noted this on the forum.

Good luck and keep posting!