Free Personal Budget Software

It’s a savvy idea to use free personal budget software to manage your finances. When you can track exactly where your money goes, you have a clearer picture of how to reach your financial goals.

Budget Software Features to Consider

Before evaluating budget software, it’s helpful to know what you might like it to do. For example:

• Do you want it to link to your accounts online, or will you enter in those numbers yourself?
• Will you want to keep track of investments as well as general budget items?
• Do you want the ability to make spreadsheets or budget forms?
• Do you need a debt calculator?
• Would you like e-mail reminders about when bills are due?
• Do you want software to help you make future financial projections?
• Will you want to pay bills online or have the ability to write checks with the software?
• Do you want online or mobile access?

These are just some of the features free personal budget software may have. Some forms of software may have many of these functions, but not all. As you have your bills spread out before you, consider what will make the process easier and how you want to view the overall picture of your budget and spending.

Free Personal Budget Software Options

Here are a few secure, free personal budget software programs to review.

• AceMoney Lite Software: This company offers a free, reduced function version of AceMoney. View your spending habits with the help of pie charts; create budgets with more than 100 category options; track savings, 401K, and other investments; use a loan calculator for debt reduction; and receive bill reminders. Works with Mac, Windows, and Linux. Available by download.
• Buddi: A simple personal budget software that helps you track account activity, create multiple budget scenarios, and generate reports. The designer accepts suggestions for other features you might want. You’ll need to install Java Runtime on your computer first, but then it works with Windows, Mac, and Linux. Available by download.
• GnuCash: This financial software is designed for personal budgets as well as small businesses. In addition to generating spending/saving graphs and reports and making payment calculations, this program will help small business owners with invoice tracking invoices and clients, double-entry accounting, and projecting scheduled transactions. Compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, and others. Available by download.
• Mint: This Web-based free personal budget software makes online banking easier by connecting to all accounts automatically. Compare your spending to the U.S. average in any category, receive notification if you’re going over your budget, track savings and investments, and develop debt elimination tools to pay off higher interest accounts first.

Be Careful with Free Software

It’s wise to read all the fine print associated with free personal budget software, or any other form of freeware. Many companies offer free software as a way to test beta versions of the program, or the software is an OEM version, which means you won’t have full functionality of the program. Some open source software is available only for a limited time before you’re charged for it.

A company may also harvest your contact information and sell it to other companies. When filling out shipping or contact forms, make sure to uncheck auto-filled boxes offering special promotions, authorization, and newsletters until you’ve read over everything carefully.

In more extreme scenarios, the free software may be a form of spyware, which may harm your computer. It could also be pirated software from a legitimate company. It’s best to search online for reviews and user comments before choosing any form of free software. And, always make sure the software offers encryption and other security measures.

Keep in mind that many free software options accept goodwill donations, or may charge for shipping if you opt for a hard copy of the software instead of a download.

• Cheap Creative Christmas Gifts
• Low Budget Recipes
• Frugal Presents for Kids
• How To Save Money At The Grocery Store
• Am I Saving Enough Money

• Great Clips Coupon
• Coupon for Olive Garden Restaurant
• Printable Online Coupons
• Free Coupons for Olive Garden
• Golden Corral Coupons

• Cheapest Flowers on the Web
• Category:Freebies and Product Samples
• Category:Cheap Computers
• Student Software Discount
• Category:Saving Money