Quicken 2010 For Dummies [Paperback]

Stephen L. Nelson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470490020 | ISBN-13: 978-0470490020 | Publication Date: December 9, 2009 | Edition: 1

This classic bestseller has been thoroughly updated for the newest version of Quicken

Who doesn't have questions about managing finances these days? Stephen Nelson translates his years of expertise as a CPA and tax expert into this plain-English guide that shows you how to manage your finances with the nation's leading personal finance software, Quicken. Trying to keep track of your credit card expenditures? Starting to save money for a college fund? Managing your household expensess? Steve's straightforward advice shows you how to take control of your money, without being an accounting wizard. Discover how to

• Get started with Quicken and maintain your checkbook on your computer
• Access your account information and pay bills online
• Manage your 401(k), IRA, stocks, and bonds
• Get up to speed on the new enhancements and changes in Quicken 2010
• Track your deductions and plan for tax time
• Capture your small business and personal expenses in one place

Spend less time crunching numbers and more time making the most of your money with this perennial For Dummies bestseller on Quicken.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Take control of your personal finances starting today!

This popular software package is just what the financial advisor ordered — a great way to track your income and expenses, manage your investments, pay your bills, and keep your checkbook. Count on this plain-English guide to get you started and get your finances in order, so you're prepared for any economic ups and downs.

• Get started — set up Quicken 2010 whether you're upgrading from an earlier version or using Quicken for the first time

• Create a budget — make a plan that's flexible enough to work for your family or your business

• Electronic checkbook — learn to maintain your checkbook on a computer and enter checks, deposits, and transfers

• Crunch some numbers — use Quicken's financial planning calculators to plan for retirement, compare loan programs, or save for your child's college education

• Reporting in — use Quicken reports to help track cash flow, summarize spending by category, review investment performance, and more

• Mind your business — if you have rental property or similar business income, use Quicken to maintain your records

• Watch your investments — manage your 401(k), IRA, stocks, and bonds

• Is that deductible? — see how Quicken helps you keep records to make tax time easier

Open the book and find:

• How to install and set up Quicken

• Solutions for managing your financial affairs efficiently

• Pointers on how to manage and monitor credit card use

• Steps for generating reports and charts

• Advice on accessing accounts and paying bills online

• How to manage payroll for your small business

• Tips for managing your investment accounts

• How to track deductions and plan for tax time

About the Author

Stephen L. Nelson, MBA, CPA, provides accounting, business advisory, tax planning, and tax preparation services to small businesses. He belongs to the American Institute of CPAs and holds an MBA in Finance and a Master's in Taxation. His 100+ books have sold more than 4 million copies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (December 9, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470490020
• ISBN-13: 978-0470490020
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #353,257 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stephen L. Nelson, MBA, CPA, provides accounting, business advisory, tax planning, and tax preparation services to small businesses. He belongs to the American Institute of CPAs and is a prolific author.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Save your Money, March 22, 2010

By 

Outdoor "Sportsman J" (Rice Lake, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Quicken 2010 For Dummies (Paperback)

I purchased both "Quicken 2010 The Official Guide" by Maria Langer and "Quicken 2010 for Dummies" by Stephen Nelson. I expected 2010 for Dummies to expand on the information that was in The Official Guide and perhaps even provide some practical applications. What I got was a very disorganized "Dummies" book with virtually no valuable information. It appears the author knows only the very basics of Quicken 2010 and therefore can't answer much more than basic questions. Save your money and look to the Quicken 2010 The Official Guide as your choice. Considering I wasn't a fan of "The Offical Guide" in the past years, this statement holds value. With the newly written version of The Official Guide that actually provides some practical hints and tips, you'll be glad you only need one book on your computer shelf. "Quicken 2010 for Dummies" is not worth your time or money.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Does not address my needs, August 12, 2010

By 

G.B.D. (New England) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Quicken 2010 For Dummies (Paperback)

I upgraded from MSFT Money. The "translation" involved 19 pages of errors. I am ready to pull my hair out. This book does not even mention moving from Money to Quicken! The "Quicken 2010, The Official Guide," does talk a bit about the translation. Bottomline: Quicken does not handle CASH in an investment account, which is where I got messed up. I finally UNINSTALLED Quicken and revived my old Money to finish off the year. Neither book could "fix" any of the mess which came through the change. I might try to start from scratch for year 2011 using Quicken. There is NO EASY way to move from Money to Quicken unless all you have is a checking account...in which case you don't need Quicken anyway...all you need is paper, pen, and a calculator.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For beginners, QX for Dummies is okay, May 8, 2010

By 

c'est moi (Miami Beach, FL USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Quicken 2010 For Dummies (Paperback)

If Quicken 2010 is one's first use of Quicken software, the Quicken 2010 for Dummies book will fill the bill (no pun intended).

As a long-time user of Quicken software, 2010 for Dummies didn't tell me anything I didn't already know -- other than to introduce a new feature, "tags," which I probably won't utilize anyway.

The only reason I purchased this book was because Quicken's tech support in India wasn't able to help me with the Quicken Home Inventory feature which was available on all of my previous versions. I literally spent over an hour speaking with the rep and his supervisor, who assured me I had the QHI on 2010, but couldn't tell me why I couldn't restore my backups onto the new software. So I bought the book thinking the answer could be found there. Turns out Quicken dropped this feature on its 2010 version. Had I known this I wouldn't have bothered with getting QX10 or the book. Maybe Quicken should send copies of this Dummies book to its tech support people overseas.

But again, for first-time users of Quicken 2010, this book will do a good job of introducing one to the software in simple, easy-to-understand language -- which is, of course, the purpose of all "Dummies" books.