Customer Reviews

Microsoft Money Deluxe 2005 [Old Version]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been using Microsoft Money 2000 for years and figured it was time to upgrade. The 2006 & 2007 versions got low marks so I decided on 2005 because it offered updated online services.

This product is the same as 2000 but with more graphics. Not only that, but it still cannot download csv files which are used at most major financial institutions (Fidelity). When I was able to download data, it only picked up the last 90 days when I had years of data online with my broker. Because it didn't download detailed transactions from beyond 90 days the cost basis and gains calculations were completely off. And if you create an online account for an account where you already have transactions entered (going back years), there is a merge function, but it only allows you to keep the new account and you lose all of the history! Why not allow us to pick which accounts we want to merge and what data to keep?!?

The budgeting module is muddled and confusing. I get a regular paycheck, yet for some reason it decided to only pick up 20% of my income and I couldn't edit it. Plus it defaults to showing the budget by month so if you have an annual expense it shows up for the month and makes it look like you are running a negative budget. The budget module in 2000 was much more simplistic, yet it allowed the user to make more edits and review the data easily by month and by year.

Also, they decided that you no longer need a subcategory for expenses so you can no longer create multiple categories under one heading. For example, I like tracking all of my food under one category, but I want a subcategory for groceries and a subcategory for dining out so I don't have to manually add two categories together when analyzing spending. I guess Microsoft thinks people are too stupid for that. Because of the missing subcategories tracking things like rental property is next to impossible.

I thought 2000 was extremely simplified but did the basics (yet I'd like more online features that are simple to use and retain historical data), and I thought this would be an improvement, but I'm going back to the old version.

I can't say enough about this program. It's really easy to use.

You can download your account from your banks internet site. That way you are always up to date on your account. Pay bills online. Print out monthly reports. Track your monthly spending.

Great program.

I have extensively used 2004 (Premium) and decided to opt for 2005 (Deluxe). We're now in 2007. Many may wonder why (a) I downgraded from Premium to Deluxe (b) Why I didn't buy 2006 or 2007. Here's why:
Premium functionality essentially revolves around providing a more complete tax-saving/calculation work platform. Other than that - deluxe vs. premium are the same. I use online and/or specialized tax products which are almost always free and upto date and available just before the tax-return period. Those I found are better to a huge extent.
Next, post extensive evaluation (thru reviews posted by others, MS itself) I realized that 2006 is essentially a wash-out by MS, in terms of re-packaging the same software with a diff. name. All it did was to address some glitches, etc. in 2005 version. Additionally, patches available today for 2005 already addresses these glitches. Now - 2007 is a diff. ball-game altogether. The problem is that it requires a NEW type of login called LiveID; which I find quite frustrating and un-neccessary. The additional 2 new budget capabilities are very small enhancements to worth the dough. Net effect - I got the 2005 today for USD 9.00 whereas I would have shelled out additional $40.00 if I had purchased 2006 or 2007.

REVIEW OF THE SOFTWARE - Well, it's definitely a BIG, BIG plus to be able to have online and constant updates directly from Money. That's a big plus. Certain banks like BOA charge for that service (9.95) while for others it's free (ex.: Citibank). The number of banks, credit-card companies are EXTENSIVE. Money 2005+ uses Yoddle Inc. for these online services. The general look and feel is also much better than 2004. They removed sub-categories; but there's a patch available (registry entry) which re-introduces it. Quick navigation, speed, etc. are another plus. They also removed MoneyExpress - which was actually a bad thing for me; since I didn't have to open the whole Money to enter in registry. Referring to MS web-site it seems that there were too many complaints and issues (but I personally never faced any).
The portfolio manager has been tremendously revamped and is really powerful. Not upto the capabilities of any dedicated investment software; however those cost also a ton! The budget/report/etc. are un-changed but useful.
MS should seriously start thinking of supporting foreign banks too. That's a big minus for Money 2005(+) and it's the same for all versions.

In terms of bad points - (a) Even after online update, the next day the same transactions re-appear as requiring reconcilliation. That even if I mark them as Cleared/Reconcilled/etc.
(b) Transfer of funds between bank accounts - generally always have a delay (lag-time between debit at 1 account, credit to another). That should be an option to introduct by user. Otherwise, the statements start to mis-match, esp. when online updates. You change the date in 1 - the other gets also affected, etc.
(c) The budgets/etc. when you attempt to build bases itself on avg. monthly income. That's a very, very wrong way since I may be having a standard salary coming in every month but I also have a bonus once an year. If I add that bonus (estimated); what Money does is it breaks that in 12 months immediately and adds to the overall monthly pool. Also, it starts the budget from the date you built the budget. What if I have a special reason to start a budget and follow it (say) from 1st. of March 20xxx. That's not possible.
(d) The insurance types are incomplete (life insurance section).
(e) MSN Bill Pay services take Helluva long time to deliver the draft.

OK, I've tried them both, and for me, Money is the hands down winner over Quicken.

I've been using Money since 2000. I'm also a Mac user, and bought Quicken for the Mac. It would have been great if Money ran on the Mac too. Although Quicken is my only option for the Mac, it's shelfware at my place. Just don't use it.

It's all the the design. When software developers tout their software, they talk about ease of use, intuitive, flexible, powerful. And with a product like Money, you get what they mean - especially if you run it alongside another product that's designed to do exactly the same thing.

It's not that it acts like it knows what you want to do next, but the navigation built into it means you smoothly move from one task or view to another, without needing to think about how to do it. That's design.

I'm putting Windows on my new Intel Mac - just so that I can run Money on it. It's that good.

It's clean, simple to use, but don't let that understate the sheer functionality of it. If you want to manage your money, this is the way to do it.

This program is adequate for simple record - keeping, but if you want to figure out long term gains, and other more complicated procedures, you should buy the more advanced edition.

Not going to go into a lot of detail as other reviews already have.
Navigation is good in some respects and convoluted in others.
The software should simplify money issues. Now I spend twice the amount of time as before trying to make the software work reliably. The online updates are great when they work. However, they are the least reliable part of this software. It has reverted back to old passwords on several occasions for no apparent reason. Budget section is OK if you don't deviate at all from the predefined categories. The budget handler of my old MS Money 1990 something was far easier to use and manipulate. Adding new categories and actually properly utilizing them in some meaningful way, downright mysterious.

This was a great upgrade from my old version. I am now able to automatically be linked to my bank and makes my task more simplified.

I had Microsoft Money 2005 on my computer. When I lost my hard drive I found that the old CD for this program would not download to my new hard drive. I purchased this version of Microsoft Money 2005 because I really liked my previous one. This is not the same program I had previously though both say Microsoft Money 2005. In order to back-up on this one you have to use floppy disks. No other option is available. I am very disappointed in this. The program is okay, I just wish I had another way to back up my program.

Received the product in a timely manner and it worked as it should. Thanks!

I'm currently using this product. I am satisified with the features that Money 2005 offering to me. Kumar