Quicken 2009: The Missing Manual

Chapter 2. Taking Quicken for a Test Drive

You might think that trying to get a handle on your finances and learn Quicken at the same time is going to push you over the edge. But have faith: With just a bit of up-front work, along with help from this trusty book, you’ll have a clear view of your finances in a jiffy. To help keep you motivated, this chapter gives you both a quick tour of the program so you can find your way around and a sneak peek of some of the cool stuff you can do with Quicken. Then you’ll learn how to open a Quicken check register, where you record payments and deposits. After that, you’ll find out how easy it is to record payments and deposits that occur on a regular schedule, like your rent payment or paycheck, and download transactions if you’re an online banking fan. Finally, you’ll see a few ways Quicken can give you a quick snapshot of the state of your finances.

Note

If you haven’t set up your Quicken data file yet, you can download a sample file from this book’s Missing CD page at www.missingmanuals.com/CDs that you can use to follow along with this chapter.

Getting Around In Quicken

Your personal finances may start off simple, but they tend to grow more complicated over time. Quicken organizes menus, windows, commands, and even your financial accounts into financial centers or tabs that are dedicated to specific financial activities, so it’s easier to accomplish the task at hand. For example, if you’re new to the workforce, you want to watch your spending, ...