"jlandtl" <jlandtl[at]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:FE85E63B-FAE8-442B-8935-857E9EE90275[at]microsoft.com...
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Possibly, but it would be hard to say exactly. Also, if you've added and
later deleted paychecks or bills, Money sometimes leaves 'ghost' entries
that you can't find in the bills list, but do affect the budget. There are
ugly workarounds to get rid of them but, without details, it be hard to say
that's contributory. It might be unrelated.

Sorry I can't be more concrete.
--
Chris Cowles
Gainesville, FL

Ok, ok...somewhere we got off...

I do have the transfer to the holding account on my after taxes tab. I then
have a separate transfer (in the bills/deposits section) to transfer that
same amount from the holding account to the car loan.

On a related note, I set up a completely new money file with only info from
1/1/06 and it seems to have "fixed" my "problem."

On a related note, since you seem knowledgeable, I have a question regarding
budget.

For example, let's say my total income for the month is $10,000 and my
expenses are $8000, leaving $2000 left over to whatever with. When I get to
the next screen, "savings goals," the system tells me I have $8200 to spend.
Where could that extra $200 come from? Is it related to the two retirement
accounts that receive contributions directly from my paycheck? Although, the
numbers do not seem to coincide (meaning, my contributions wouldn't equal the
$200 difference).

Also, when I go to my annual budget, I cannot find this $200 instance...

"Chris Cowles" wrote:

- quote -

"jlandtl" <jlandtl[at]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:97A60256-CDC6-461F-91AC-2645FAD9A67A[at]microsoft.com...
- quote -

Is the car payment transfer a separate transaction? If so, what is the
source of the transfer?

You probably need to ditch that method. Put the transfer on the 'after
taxes' tab of your paycheck, to the holding account.

The way I have the paycheck set up, that wouldn't work. The amount deducted
from my paycheck for my car never actually reaches my checking account. It is
deducted after taxes. What is left over is my net pay - that's what reaches
my checking account.

I have the car payment being transferred to a "holding" account. Then, a
bill set up to automatically pay my car loan account from the "holding"
account. If I include the holding account in my budget, the budget double
accounts for it as it (the car payment/loan) is already included as a "debt."

Does that make sense?

"Chris Cowles" wrote:

- quote -

"jlandtl" <jlandtl[at]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E4D758FC-5181-4A50-AFAF-B65903A4F75A[at]microsoft.com...
- quote -

Both the checking account to which you deposit the paycheck and the holding
account, should be in the budget.
--
Chris Cowles
Gainesville, FL

When I included this "holding" account in my budget, it lists the expense
under the "Debt" budget group and again in the "transfers out of budget
accounts" So, its adding the expense twice.

I'm more inclined to think that I do not include the "holding" account,
since it is already a transfer out of a budget account, right? Although doing
this won't allow me to budget for my car loan or its payments, will it?

"Chris Cowles" wrote:

- quote -

"jlandtl" <jlandtl[at]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0A630A66-90FE-46E8-A7DE-E8BBB7061DB7[at]microsoft.com...
- quote -

Yes, it's a good way to handle it and yes, include it in your budget.

If you include it, the transfer from checking (paycheck) to holding account
will be invisible to the budget. The actual payment of the loan from the
holding account is what will show up on the budget.

If you don't include the account in your budget, the transfer out will be an
expense in the 'transfer out of budget' category. The loan is in budget, by
definition. Payment of the loan from the transfer account will show the loan
payment, plus a 'transfer in' income event. Lotsa noise.

Separate 'budget' from 'cash flow' in your head. That's what Money does.
Once you can understand what it's doing, the budget makes sense. (That
assumes no ghost bills resulting from deleting them from the bill schedule.)
--
Chris Cowles
Gainesville, FL

I utilize the paycheck option in money to track my paychecks. I have
approximately $200 coming out after taxes to pay for my car loan. I have
found that in order to accurately reflect the payments being made on that
loan, I had to transfer the $200 to a "holding" account, then set up a
transfer in the bills section to then transfer that money out of the
"holding" account an into my auto loan account. I could not transfer to the
car loan account directly from my paycheck.

Is this a good way to handle this? I'm finding that it may be causing some
confusion when setting up my budget. Also, would I include the holding
account in my list of accounts in my budget? I would think not has there is
always a balance of 0.

Thanks.