Can you please recommend software that is simple to use on Windows Vista? We want to manage our pensions, savings and investments and keep all the information on our PC.
Julian Taylor
Microsoft Money has been a common choice, partly because it is bundled with the huge Microsoft Works Suite (Encarta, AutoRoute etc), which can be shipped with new PCs for a very low price. It can handle investments and has the support of some banks, but Microsoft no longer seems to be interested in it. There has not been a new version since Money 2006 was released in 2005, in spite of a campaign by PC Pro magazine.
The paid-for alternatives include Personal Accountz, which costs £39 but offers free lifetime support, and MoneyBox, which costs €30 a year. Both have spreadsheet-style user interfaces. The shareware iCash looks simpler and it might be worth checking a trial download. Some people also use US versions of Quicken.
Before you decide, find out if your bank supports any particular software, or if it makes data available in a format such as the Microsoft-backed OFX (Open Financial eXchange). If you choose software that can import data, you won't have to type it in.
