The Easy Way To Track Home Finances

Do you know how long it took me to do my taxes last year? About 30 minutes - and I had my tax refund by February 10th.

I know, you're probably screaming, "WHAT??? It took me hours just to put my papers together to take to H&R Block last year, and the IRS took forever to send me a check! What's your scam?"

No scam - honest. The truth is, modern technology has made it easier than ever to get your home finances together. You can do it too! Today I'll share one of my secrets with you!

Truthfully, my system is laughingly simple - it relies on repeatable, workable weekly routines. The hardest part is setting it up, but once you've done that, the rest is a breeze. If you diligently take the time every week to update your systems, I can guarantee two things: you will always know your own financial picture, (and it's nice to know exactly where you stand - less worry that way) and your taxes next year will be much easier than you ever thought they could be. So what are you waiting for? Let's go!

If you're reading this article you've already got the most important piece- a computer and Internet access. you'll need to go out and buy Quicken, Money or some other financial product to keep track of your finances.

I use Quicken, but they are all much the same nowadays. It will cost you between $35 - $60 for the latest version, but it will be well worth the expense - you'll wonder why you used to do this any other way! Visit them on the web at Quicken or Microsoft Money. Both are easy to install, have great customer support, and millions of people use them, so they have great track records.

In your new financial software, you need to set up a register for every account you have. Usually, you have a savings account and a checking account. If you also have a 401(K) set up, or maybe some IRA's, set these up in you system as well. If you really want to track your entire financial picture accurately, make sure you make and account for everything - including your house (if you own) and car loan if you have one. With your new slick software installed and your computer all ready to go, let's move on to the next phase - getting your account info from your bank off of the Internet! Quick note - if you're at all concerned about security when banking on the Internet, check out this information on online security.

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