Karen Zeigler

What's the best way for tracking spending on the computer?

Karen, what is your opinion about the best way to track spending every month?  Do you like a particular computer program?  We have been using pen and paper, recording every receipt, balancing against every credit card and bank statement.  I am always looking for ways to make my life easier!

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Dear Finanically Responsible Person,

Thanks for posting your burning question to my blog.  Personally, I find Quicken the most user friendly and useful.  I had Quicken for years and just in the past year purchased a new computer that had Microsoft Money on it so I decided to give it a try.  Perhaps it's the long standing habits I had from using Quicken so long but I found Microsoft Money difficult to figure out and spent quite a bit of time on the phone with a helpdesk.  However, I suggest you do some research online for yourself as I don't track spending as diligently as you do [Oops! Should I have said that. :)]  Here is a link to an article from PC World comparing the two software programs:

http://pcworld.about.com/news/Aug012006id126612.htm

I think you will find it useful in determining which one is right for you. 

May God Bless you richly today,

Karen

My Friends Gifts are Causing Me to Spend More..Help?

Dear Karen,
My husband and I do not have any "extra" money right now, yet I have a friend of whom I adore and has...lets say "a lot" of extra money who is ALWAYS asking my family to do stuff with her family.  She always has tickets to something or some kind of idea up her sleeve for the weekend, and never fails to have more tickets and demands that we go with them.  My question is what in the world am I doing?  I appreciate her inviting but I always seem to spend every last dollar I have while we are at these events.  And by Monday I am broke again.  Don't get me wrong, my children are having the time of their life but I feel very irresponsible when the day is done.  Do I continue to enjoy and appreciate or say no and stop going?
Signed,
Confused Kerri

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Dear Confused,

Giving is a gift that every believers has to a degree and in the case of your friend it could be her Primary spiritual gift.  First you must understand that when believers use their spiritual gifts they are pleasing God and in most cases it is as big of blessing for themselves (They feel good about it) as it is for the recipient.  However,  there is also 1 Corinthians 10:32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God.  Therefore, if her gifts are causing you to stumble and keeping you from getting your own financial house in order then definitely something should be said.  I don't think you have to turn down every invitation but certainly the ones that will ultimately be to your financial determent.  Because even though the event may be fun for a period of time the financial consequences will last a lot longer.  So bottom line is I would express to your friend how utterly grateful you are for all the things that she invites you too.  Then give examples of events that you could go to without breaking the bank and events that would cause financial strain and ask that she bless someone else with those invitations.    I am confident that the honesty will strengthen your friendship and your finances. 

God Bless,

Karen   

Q & A

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