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Personal Finance Software
There are several software packages that allow individuals or small businesses to manage finances,
such as tracking bills paid, paying bills either electronically or by generating a check, and monitoring
investments. The packages are relatively easy to use and yet fairly sophisticated in that they provide
for secure communications for electronic bill paying and other online banking services such as
account reconciliation, as well as the importing of current stock market quotes. The most widely used
packages for personal finance are Quicken from Intuit and Microsoft Money. Small businesses use
Quickbooks from Intuit, Microsoft Office Accounting, and Peachtree from Sage Software SB.
Exhibit 19.10 displays a sample screen that is used to enter bills to be paid. As you can see, the user
input metaphor is that of a check, the very same document the user would use if the bill were to be
paid manually. The difference is that, by using this method, data is collected for a host of other
purposes:
• Tracking paid bills by category for budgeting purposes.
• Tracking payments for tax purposes.
• Reconciling the checking account.
The system has the capability to keep track of more than one account and to allow for interaccount
transfers.
Project Management Software