The the first paragraph of this article makes my stomach turn:
Consumer spending in the U.S. rose in January even as incomes dropped...showing households were weathering the payroll-tax increase by socking away less money in the bank.
The rest of the article goes on saying that this type of spending is helping support the economy, but it doesn't point out that people are living beyond their means. I remember a few years ago during the recession that one talking head said the economy was rebounding because credit card purchases were increasing. The economist who was speaking with him said that was because people were using debt to pay for the basic necessities.
Living beyond your means is a death sentence, a terminal cancer, for your finances. It may not happen overnight, you may keep the boat afloat with debt for awhile, but it will fail, it will sink.
Unlike the government, individuals cannot print more money (legally). We can only work harder, sacrifice, and cut expenses to keep our income balanced with our spending. It sucks. Its no fun, but its the only way to prevent keep you away from that debt beast.
Honestly ask yourself.
Would you sacrifice your future, soul, child, or wealth to Moloch back in ancient times for wealth and a good harvest?
No?
Then why you sacrifice your wealth, your family, your children and your future to credit card companies in exchange for instant gratification?
The minimum recommended version of Quicken I would suggest to anyone who is seeking to control their financial situation is Quicken Deluxe. The problem most people would have with that advice is that Quicken Deluxe cost 60 dollars to purchase.
You can find it cheaper on Amazon but the problem is the same. Quicken is expensive. Why spend 60 when you can get the same thing using Mint.com?
I've used Mint before. It is a great program that helps anyone, regardless of financial ability, to start tracking their personal finances. Mint is a program that helps track money. Quicken manages your cash. Quicken is the big leagues. The reports you can generate, the different types of accounts you can track, even the unique way to track gold and airline miles in Quicken.
I like Mint. I think every 16 year old should sign up for a free account to start forming the habit of budgets and spending patterns. But after one gets a full time job, or has multiple accounts from loans to investments, Quicken should be used. The ability for Quicken to track important tax info has paid for the program this tax season.
Quicken, when used regularly and when you read how to use its features, is a powerful tool for the management of money. Quicken gives you the greatest tool in personal finance. Knowledge.
