Description:
With checkbooks going the way of the fax machine, money-management programs are becoming an increasingly popular addition to personal software collections. Whether you're creating a monthly budget or planning a complex investment portfolio, Microsoft Money 2002 Deluxe offers a compelling solution for everyone from stockbrokers to soccer moms. The first thing we noticed after launching Money 2002 Deluxe was how happy everyone in Microsoft land seemed. Images of beautiful people sitting around in loungewear floated across our screen, beckoning us to join the ranks of content Money users. Happily, we complied and began entering our personal finance information, including bank accounts, credit cards, monthly expenses, etc. While the setup wizard made getting started extremely easy, take note that many features require users to have a Microsoft Passport account. Without this account number, users are unable to access some of the cooler Web features available in Money 2002. Disabling this feature is complicated, and ignoring it is virtually impossible as you are constantly being asked to sign in to Passport. That said, many of the new features that make Money a worthwhile upgrade revolve around better Web integration and online services. The new MoneySide bar follows you around as you surf the Web, providing you with access to your financial data as you shop, invest, or pay bills. You can also synchronize your Money data with MSN Money, which allows for up-to-date investing, banking, and financial planning information. Other improvements show up in the areas of report and chart creation, as well as the ability to send these reports via e-mail. Finally, a new Bill Setup and Edit feature offers a central location for tracking your bills and making electronic payments. One of the great things about Money 2002 Deluxe is that you can use it as much or as little as you like. For example, if you just want to see how much a vacation will affect your monthly budget, the program offers a one-time expense feature to use during that month. If, on the other hand, you'd rather create a six-month plan to purchase a new SUV, Money 2002 will help you set up a budget to account for this expense over time. Overall, Money 2002 Deluxe is a strong and dependable tool for managing your money, which can only lead to financial gains. --Gisele Toueg
| 
