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Personal Finance Software
HyperJ
Brisbane, Queensland
420 posts
Can anybody recommend a simple personal finance tool?
Last thread about this was three years ago, has anything changed?
Has anybody had any experience with ANZ money manager?
08:23pm 29/05/12 Permalink
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08:23pm 29/05/12 Permalink
Raven
Melbourne, Victoria
6951 posts
Be more specific about why you want it and what you want to track. You may find any kind of app is overkill for what you want. I've used a simple table/spreadsheet for years which has been sufficient, though my brother recently put in the time to take a raw NAB data import to categorise purchases.
08:41pm 29/05/12 Permalink
crazymorton
Brisbane, Queensland
3099 posts
mint is the one I've heard most good things about. haven't used it myself but read lots of good stuff about it.
08:43pm 29/05/12 Permalink
hardware
Brisbane, Queensland
10226 posts
start run calc
start run excel
08:44pm 29/05/12 Permalink
mental
Brisbane, Queensland
3169 posts
Why use calc and excel and not just excel?
08:45pm 29/05/12 Permalink
Jerry
Queensland
4165 posts
i tried a few different ones and found that going back to spreadsheets was the best for me - easy to make changes to the system or add notes,etc without going down a pre-determined or limited path of options.

I have an anz money manager account setup - it's good for getting a snapshop of all of your bank accounts regardless of bank, and good at categorizing things (purchases - fuel, groceries, etc) semi-automatically.

I don't use it for management however - I used it's multi-bank linking capabilities to let me capture the info of all my bank accounts and send to my phone via sms when commanded whilst away from atms/pc.
08:45pm 29/05/12 Permalink
Herron
Brisbane, Queensland
124 posts
You Need a Budget is great if your after a budgeting tool.
08:59pm 29/05/12 Permalink
HyperJ
Brisbane, Queensland
421 posts
I just want to track incoming and outgoing (creditcard and offset), and categorize each item (and ideally import from bank statments)
09:03pm 29/05/12 Permalink
Slappercx
Brisbane, Queensland
1956 posts
try quickbooks personal . seems to do all of the above, can also track investments if / when you need that feature also.
09:11pm 29/05/12 Permalink
hardware
Brisbane, Queensland
10227 posts
Why use calc and excel and not just excel?
I was giving him options!!!!111one
09:26pm 29/05/12 Permalink
Jerry
Queensland
4166 posts
I just want to track incoming and outgoing (creditcard and offset), and categorize each item (and ideally import from bank statments)
i would suggest try anz money manager then - it should automatically grab this info from your credit card and other accounts and categorize (it will automatically tell you how much you are spending on fuel and groceries and custom rule categories).. and it's free - pretty quick to setup, and if you don't like it then just abandon the account
09:41pm 29/05/12 Permalink
infi
Brisbane, Queensland
18758 posts
get a notepad from your favourite politician, start writing, profit.
10:04pm 29/05/12 Permalink
Spook
Brisbane, Queensland
33778 posts
our family budget runs in excel (no need for calc)
05:28am 30/05/12 Permalink
arkter
Gold Coast, Queensland
794 posts
start > run > dont-spend-money-on-shit-you-dont-need.exe
06:40am 30/05/12 Permalink
trog
AGN Admin
Brisbane, Queensland
36243 posts
My accountants are trying to get me to use Xero. It is "cloud".

It actually looks really neat. The business version has this feature where it will automatically hook into your bank and pull out all your transactions - so you can log in at any time and see what is going on where. You can set up automated rules for transactions - so you can, for e.g., say anything on your credit card from MCDONALDS INC is a "food" transaction, then at the end of the month you can look at a breakdown showing how much you spent on food. It's all magic and automated.

That feature isn't available in the personal version yet but apparently it's coming soon (3rd quarter this year). In the meantime you can just export transactions from your bank in CSV and import them in manually and still do all that stuff.

You can try the personal version here for free: https://www.xero.com/personal/ but I can't see the pricing for it listed anywhere. I seem to recall it is around $60/year.
07:07am 30/05/12 Permalink
TicMan
Melbourne, Victoria
8015 posts
I use Xero for my business and it's awesome. Craps all over MYOB, Quicken, etc. The bank statement import is really fantastic and works with a decent range of banks (Suncorp is covered for example), invoicing is easy and tracking payments even easier.

Plus it's written by a bunch of local guys spread across AU & NZ.
07:16am 30/05/12 Permalink
IVY_MiKe
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
1042 posts
Mint advertises the same thing Trog, but apparently 'doesn't charge' for the service...

You guys aren't a little nervous about who you're really publishing your financials too there are ya?
07:54am 30/05/12 Permalink
Twisted
Brisbane, Queensland
11670 posts

If you're with Suncorp there's a finance tool built into Internet banking. Not sure how advanced it is. But it breaks your spending up into categories based on the stores you shop at, etc and I think you can set goals and shit.

This is it: http://www.suncorpbank.com.au/ways-to-bank/internet-banking/budgeting-tool
08:11am 30/05/12 Permalink
BlueMoon
7 posts
Who do you think uses the financial data from these sites IVY_Mike?
08:38am 30/05/12 Permalink
Raven
Melbourne, Victoria
6954 posts
Trying Xero now thanks to Trogs suggestion.

It really doesn't like the NAB CSV format, I might try later exporting it to QIF and see if it separates the details a bit better.
Also because of the way I've been shifting around money to deal with my home loan, it thinks I have well over $1m in revenue this year :p

For now I've only imported 4 NAB accounts, I still have 3 more NAB accounts and two ING accounts.

Pricing for Xero is $49/year.
08:59am 30/05/12 Permalink
$ack
Brisbane, Queensland
1515 posts
Looks like $49/month to me...

Also seems like you can keep using the free trial indefinitely. Wonder what features are missing, assuming imports are disabled which wouldn't bother me.
09:19am 30/05/12 Permalink
Clubby
Brisbane, Queensland
853 posts
Mint is not yet available in Australia. You can sign up to get an email if there’s any news.


FYI. Good timing on thread I've been looking for something to handle this also will give the other one a look.
09:32am 30/05/12 Permalink
taggs
6000 posts
excel
09:34am 30/05/12 Permalink
teq
Brisbane, Queensland
12958 posts
that xero looks awesome, I've just trialed it and i'll be showing the minister for finance when I get home
mad props!



09:45am 30/05/12 Permalink
trog
AGN Admin
Brisbane, Queensland
36244 posts
^ teq, those prices are for the business versions; the Personal version is heaps cheaper. I Don't know where Raven got $49/yr but that sounds about right.
11:43am 30/05/12 Permalink
foolix
Brisbane, Queensland
138 posts
I can't see anywhere about a personal version
02:57pm 30/05/12 Permalink
Raven
Melbourne, Victoria
6957 posts
The only way to get the personal pricing is after you've signed up, when you go to purchase it for a years subscription.
In small print, it tells you:
Pricing: $49 AUD including GST annually starting 30 May 2012
.
03:04pm 30/05/12 Permalink
foolix
Brisbane, Queensland
139 posts
Found it... bit random but after I signed up for what must have been the business trial I found a link when logging in for

"$49 including GST per year
With Xero Personal you get a 30 day free trial period. If you cancel in this period, you won't be billed."
03:21pm 30/05/12 Permalink
Mantra
Crusty old man
Brisbane, Queensland
3066 posts
03:21pm 30/05/12 Permalink
Opec
Brisbane, Queensland
7593 posts
I'm a bit paranoid about using these cloud accounting software and giving it access to my online bank account. I'm assuming that's how it works right? You put in your say NAB Internet banking user/pass it does the magic to import data etc?

For those of you that used this function are you ok with it? Maybe I'm just old and boring... Clearly it has massive benefit in automating transaction grouping and labeling etc so you can get your breakdown automagically but... the voice inside my head goes "danger will robinson danger"

Edit: Ok just read more about the import feature and it can also get a "proper" feeds from partner bank account, NAB is one of them. So you'd have to sign the form to authorise Zero to get data feed from your bank. The only problem is currently NAB doesn't supply CCard statement feed - which is kinda not good for me since I put everything on CCard and pay it all off monthly... Of course there's a user/pass thing I mentioned but just read their terms and conditions for this particular service and am a bit concern with this:

http://www.xero.com/about/terms/yodlee/

3. Content You Provide. You are licensing to Xero and Yodlee, Inc. (“Yodlee”), any data, passwords or other information (collectively, “Content”) You provide through or to the Yodlee Service . Xero and Yodlee may use, modify, display, distribute and create new material using such Content only to provide the Yodlee Service and the Service to You. By submitting Content, You automatically agree, or promise that the owner of such Content has expressly agreed that, without any particular time limit, and without the payment of any fees, Xero and Yodlee may use the Content for the purposes set out above.

4. Third Party Accounts. By using the Yodlee Service , You authorise Xero and Yodlee to access third party sites designated by You, on Your behalf, to retrieve information requested by You, and to register for accounts requested by You. For all purposes hereof, You hereby grant Xero and Yodlee a limited power of attorney, and You hereby appoint Xero and Yodlee as Your true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for You and in Your name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to access third party internet sites, servers or documents, retrieve information, and use Your information, all as described above, with the full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection with such activities, as fully to all intents and purposes as You might or could do in person, only as required to provide you the Service. You acknowledge and agree that when Xero or Yodlee accesses and retrieves information from third party sites, Xero and Yodlee are acting as Your agent, and not the agent or on behalf of the third party. You agree that third party account providers shall be entitled to rely on the foregoing authorisation, agency and power of attorney granted by You. You understand and agree that the Yodlee Service is not endorsed or sponsored by any third party account providers accessible through the Yodlee Service .


Of course there's a manually import file route ..
03:25pm 30/05/12 Permalink
Raven
Melbourne, Victoria
6958 posts
So tell me, I've just had to pay $1,000, $1,000, $4,000, and $33,000 to Stockland, Metricon, Stockland and Stockland/Perpetual to buy land and the deposit on a house.
What category do you guys put those in? :P Essential or non-essential purchases? Cos they put a fair dint in my running stats and P/L :P
03:57pm 30/05/12 Permalink
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03:57pm 30/05/12 Permalink
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