03-07-2012, 05:56 AM
I keep all of my records in Excel.
The worksheet for my checking account can print checks and keeps a running balance. One field keeps track of cleared transactions. In this particular field, a blank means the transaction has not been processed; a "c" means that it has gone through the credit union but has not been reported on the monthly statement and an "x" in this field means that the transaction has been reported on the monthly statement.
I have worksheets for credit cards and for my investments. At the end of each month I take a "snapshot" of the number of shares (I reinvest dividends) and the end of month share values so I know each month how the stocks are doing compared to their purchase price and I also have a longitudinal record of how my holdings have done since I purchased them. I set up a portfolio in Google.finance and after the close of the market on the last day of each month I download the closing share price which I use to monitor how I'm doing.
Excel would be too expensive to purchase for just this purpose, but I have it for some other work I do. I started keeping finances in Appleworks 3.0 and have just moved forward adding features as they come along. (The "c" and the "x" are legacies from AW days; there is no reason to change them.)
The worksheet for my checking account can print checks and keeps a running balance. One field keeps track of cleared transactions. In this particular field, a blank means the transaction has not been processed; a "c" means that it has gone through the credit union but has not been reported on the monthly statement and an "x" in this field means that the transaction has been reported on the monthly statement.
I have worksheets for credit cards and for my investments. At the end of each month I take a "snapshot" of the number of shares (I reinvest dividends) and the end of month share values so I know each month how the stocks are doing compared to their purchase price and I also have a longitudinal record of how my holdings have done since I purchased them. I set up a portfolio in Google.finance and after the close of the market on the last day of each month I download the closing share price which I use to monitor how I'm doing.
Excel would be too expensive to purchase for just this purpose, but I have it for some other work I do. I started keeping finances in Appleworks 3.0 and have just moved forward adding features as they come along. (The "c" and the "x" are legacies from AW days; there is no reason to change them.)