In microsoft.public.money, Justin Rich wrote:

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I wouldn't start over. I would add a compensating transaction in
each account that makes the balance work out. The question would be
how to date the transaction. I would date it at about the earliest
point where you thought you were not missing any transactions after
that point.

You can create a category called "Adjustment" or some such.

Another way of catching up with things is to change the account
Starting Balance. I prefer the separate transaction, for this case,
but others would prefer to change the starting balance. It would be
worth checking the starting balance in each account. Perhaps it was
an incorrect number. I would prefer to have those be zero, and use
the adjustment transactions to get things right initially.

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If you buy mutual fund and stocks, you will find entering the data
into Money as you go will make doing your income tax easier when you
eventually sell something.

I cant even begin to explain how helpful you have been, i really do
appreciate it..

But im still running in to small problems.

The bank balance and the balance money has just arent the same and i think
it has to do with the start dates of these things. Should i just enter in
deposits/payments to even it out and let it go from there or is it more
likely that ive done something wrong and i should just start over.

Starting over wouldnt be too big of a deal, i dont really have a whole lot
going on right now for it. Just not really sure how i should have set it up
to get it started. all i really have is a bank account and two credit card
accounts. The only thing i would like to get out of money is account
forcasting and an analysis of where im spending my money. As well as maybe
some bill notifications (sort of needed for projections) and i think thats
about it.

again, very much appreciate your insight.

Thanks
Justin


"Cal Learner-- MVP" <via_newsgroup[at]please.tnx> wrote in message
news:lqmut2dq2j7cg34ircq0psa47e6r0rgdvv[at]4ax.com...
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In microsoft.public.money, Justin Rich wrote:

- quote -

"Bank Balance" on a credit card account or bank account is the
balance downloaded from your credit card company or bank, and .
"Ending Balance" for a bank account ant "You Owe" for a credit card
account should represent the balance from your transactions entered
into Money.

They would mis-match if there were transactions that were duplicated
or missing.

You might want to look into balancing accounts to your monthly
statements. At the top of the register, set the
View:AllTransactionsCoveringAllDates,SortedByDate( Increasing). Look
back at past statements. Find the earliest point where the balance
column does not match the credit card statement balance, and fix it.
This can be with the balancing process, or just by inspection.

So as i play some more i noticed that the "Bank balance" and the "Ending
Balance" are a LOT different. (mostly from those credit card transfers) but
i was curious, what method should i use to sync those? is there like a
recommended procedure, a function with in Money, or do i just need to sort
of analyze it and fiugre out why the number are off myself?

again, your help is greatfully appreciated.

Justin

"Cal Learner-- MVP" <via_newsgroup[at]please.tnx> wrote in message
news:lmgst2p64dplvgr0eha3de90g0c6dngb6u[at]4ax.com...
- quote -

In microsoft.public.money, Justin Rich wrote:

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I would Void either, or Delete the self-entered one.

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Sorry one more quick question for this one.
when im deleting the duplicates which one should i delete?

Electronic or self entered (i assume it was auto created by the transfer
setup)

didnt know if it mattered.. figured i would ask before i broke something

Thanks again

"Cal Learner-- MVP" <via_newsgroup[at]please.tnx> wrote in message
news:nonrt21vgd98kk09sltdjrme9v0olltgj0[at]4ax.com...
- quote -

In microsoft.public.money, Justin Rich wrote:

- quote -

When you go back and catch up with this method, you will need to
Delete/Void one transaction in each instance that you turn a
non-transfer into a transfer. Once you are caught up, then you only
have to make the first-downloaded transaction into a transfer, and
expect the second download to match the then-existing transfer.

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There is a setting that is supposed to determine how far the dates
can mismatch and still make the transaction match. The default
should work.

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E is electronically cleared (downloaded)
C is manually cleared
R is reconciled -- often during the Balancing process.

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The account list is a list of accounts. I don't know if that answers
your question.

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There is an alternative method that has some merit in simplicity. I
feel you will like the advanced method better over time. Here is an
alternate method of handling the credit card downloads:

In method 2, don't handle credit card payments as transfers or
the pre-defined "Credit Card Payment Instead create one category of
"CC payment" or some such. If you define the category as an
expense category, expect a warning when you use it to represent the
payment within the credit card account -- if you have the warning
enabled. Just click Yes in response to the warning. The category
should net at zero in reports across accounts, and you can still
customize to ignore the category if you like. For this method you
could use the Money "EXPENSE Credit Card Payment".



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Money has a lot of features, and almost nobody uses them all. Use
the ones you find useful, and don't feel guilty about not using the
others.


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That helps
So i set them to the transfers and that seems ok but im curious what does it
do when i set that? im seeing payment dulpicates in some places.

there is a "thank you" payment on the card and then there is the payment
listed on my bank account (both automatic from the download). I noticed a
couple of duplicates here and there off by one day. does it try to match the
days inorder to make the association? mostly i would just like it to match
these two items up and keep them out of any reports.

Also what is the column C and what are its possible values (mostly have E
and blank)

One other thing ive noticed is that it seems to seperate the account (things
like balance account register and account list make it seem as though they
are two different things)

I find it hard to believe i have to set it to advanced for it to work. is it
really so hard to figure that if i have credit cards im going to have to pay
them, most likely from my bank account?!

this program seems more complex than it needs to be.
still overwhelmed by all of this.. but i'll get it!

really appreciate your help and quick responses.

Thanks
Justin


"Cal Learner-- MVP" <via_newsgroup[at]please.tnx> wrote in message
news:d1lpt2dp022snnbmc6jas6hmus0squtkap[at]4ax.com...
- quote -

In microsoft.public.money, Justin Rich wrote:

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Yes. That has a big effect.

I suggest
Tools-> Settings-> AccountSettings(global)-> DisplayAllAccountsInTheAdvancedAccountRegister

You are clearly an advanced user from the point of view of Money.




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So..... i dont get it.... lol sorry
you said not to use the catagory EXPENSE Credit Card payment (in money 07
its listed as "Credit Card Payments/Transfers")

but there are only INCOME and EXPENSE catagories. so perhaps im missing
something.

Also i seemed to have lost some options and i dont know how. at this point
when i select a transaction the only thing i can do is assign a catagory and
save it. i use to be able to do more. its that way for all of my accounts
now.

Its currently in "Essential Register", does that have any effect on it?

Thanks again, i appreciate the help

Justin


"Cal Learner-- MVP" <via_newsgroup[at]please.tnx> wrote in message
news:bq7ht21gaii5s01e6mn18n1kpni5hp1mfo[at]4ax.com...
- quote -

In microsoft.public.money, Justin Rich wrote:

- quote -

When you process the first transaction of the credit card
payment (whether from the checking or credit card account download),
set the category as a transfer to the other ( credit card
or bank account), or use the equivalent "SPECIAL Credit Card
Payment" category. When you process the second transaction,Money
should match it. Be careful to not just Accept if Money did not
find the match on its own for some reason. Click Change and match
it to the transfer you already made if Money did not match it for
you. I would consider this the classic of the ways I like. Note
that for this you would *not* use the Money "EXPENSE Credit Card
Payment". I would Delete that category.

I was curious. Is there a way to link your credit card payments to your bank
account?

It is screwing my graphs all up because it combines the accounts so payments
of the credit card show up in the graph. So it basically looks like the
majority of my money goes to the credit card when really its more like a
transfer of money.

not sure ive explained this too well but i hope someone can lead me in the
right direction.

Is there a good "getting started" guide some place on the net for Money
2007? i took a look at the MS guides but they are a little too fluffy for me
and i dont have time to read all the extra crap they toss in there.

I dont want to do anything crazy. I just have two credit cards and one bank
account and mostly i just want to do spending projections and estimated cash
flow.

Thanks
Justin