Quicken 2009: The Missing Manual

Chapter 7. Transaction Timesavers

Chapter 5 taught you transaction basics, like how to record checks and deposits. But Quicken gives you the power to do a whole lot more. For example, you can search for specific transactions, change previously assigned categories, or allocate money in a single payment to several categories. Even better, you can reduce your record-keeping chores by automating transactions in Quicken. That way you don’t have to remember when bills or deposits are due—Quicken reminds you and does most of the grunt work. Automating transactions requires a bit of setup, but the time you save down the road makes it all worthwhile.

This chapter guides you through all these transaction tasks, and more. You’ll find out what each command on the Transaction Edit menu does—though you may use some of those commands only once in a blue moon. Finally, you’ll learn how to manage memorized payees so QuickFill can live up to its name.

Tip

Automating your paycheck in Quicken may be the granddaddy of timesavers. You can tell Quicken about your income, payroll tax withholdings, and other paycheck deductions, as well as the tax-form lines to which each applies—and reduce recording each paycheck to a click or two. The real payoff, though, comes at tax time, when Quicken totals the paycheck numbers you need to complete your tax return. You can learn about automating paychecks starting on Automatically Recording Paycheck Deposits.

Transferring Money Between Accounts

Chances are that you transfer ...