Help! Finances,paperwork,receipts!

Yes, I do use that very program. This program when you first get it is INTIMIDATING. I have used it religiously now since 2007. I got divorced because of money and trust issues with my ex-wife. She still struggles with money and comes begging to me on occasion still today.

I put all my money movements into quicken there. I don't really spend much of anything until I have "consulted" with quicken. Even how much fuel I can spend this week to work. I actually forecast what I am going to spend, when I will spend it and all that.

I use the "download" feature to keep my quicken and my bank accounts "synched". This allows me to not have to enter ALL of the information all the time by hand. (Which I will still do depending on what is happening). So yes, I have all that entered into Quicken. Quicken and the banks have some security things worked out. otherwise, it wouldn't get you anything. I have talked to my bank about it when I first got it. You think YOU are paranoid, you should talk to the bank about THEIR security. You only worry about one account. They worry about THOUSANDS of accounts and billions of $$$. You think they want to open a portal via something like this......It's partly why I trust something like Quicken LONG before I'll trust other software. They've done the backside security work.

H&B 13 which you downloaded is also bloated with a lot of features too. including one that gives you a mobile app as well for your smart phone. I had considered updating to H&B 13 until I saw that feature. Just not ready for that yet.

You can get started without letting it access your bank. No issues there.

Worry about getting your categories setup correctly for now. Put in just your checking(easier to just focus on one account and learn what you are doing). I found it works best to start with the last statement. Put in the beginning balance and go forward from there. The past is the past, and the rest is a brand new outlook. But at this CRITICAL point. DO NOT stop doing things on paper. When you SEE And can grasp that the software is accurate like you kept the paper stuff, then you can make a decision about keeping paper records or not. I print the current register maybe once or twice a year. When I am really planning things out.

 

Ok, thank you. I thought I was being phished, and fixing to get "got".

 

It's scary when you get down to it.

I replied to your other message too.

 

While we're talking about this kind of stuff, here's a fairly important tip:

Photocopy and/or scan/print register tape receipts, to file them. The thermal paper or printing on it (not sure which, maybe both) deteriorates rather rapidly and becomes illegible. Best bet is scan then laser print, or photocopy.

It would really be awkward to present your CPA with a folder or 3 of receipts that he can't read, come tax time, to say nothing of the IRS staffer if you get audited for anything.