Oh, and a shameless plug: you may find some tidbits of interest at
http://umpmfaq.info.

If you have more questions as you progress, we're likely to still be here.
Good luck!

"RonMcK3" <RonMcK3[at]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A6A8A8C9-8D8A-443A-BCA8-EA9DB637A199[at]microsoft.com...
- quote -

Cal,

Thanks. The drumbeat of 'Enter things manually into Money' is seeping into
my brain. I'll do that and become acclimatized to how Money works. As noted
elsewhere, I have upgraded to Deluxe.

---
Ron McKenzie
Orlando, FL


"Cal Learner-- MVP" wrote:

- quote -

Okay, I get the picture, Dick. I need to enter my data, if Money can match it
to a bank-generated transaction, fine. And, if not, then, I have some
clean-up to do. If that proves too bothersome, I'll fall back to doing things
entirely manually.

In other news, this afternoon I removed Ess and installed the trial of
Deluxe. I'll sort out with Digital River (or MS) how to get my 19.99 applied
against the 29.99.

Thanks!

---
Ron Mckenzie
Orlando, FL


"Dick Watson" wrote:

- quote -

In microsoft.public.money, RonMcK3 wrote:

- quote -

A good way of handling these in Deluxe is to enter the transaction
into Money by hand. Upon download, Money should match the download
to the existing transaction that you entered.

Pay attention to be sure Money matches correctly before accepting.

<caveatI write here largely about Deluxe or higher. MEss may or may not do any of
the things I describe. I know it won't do lots of them.
</caveat
<warning_too_lateMy long-standing recommendation to new users is to master entering
transactions by hand first so that you understand how Money is supposed to
work BEFORE diving into the downloaded transaction data thing. That way you
understand how it's supposed to work so you have context for what happens
when the downloaded transaction stuff proves problematic. And you'll have
some sense of how to fix it. Many or most other regulars here think I am
nuts in my views on this subject. YMMV.
</warning_too_late
I think we need to get an essential fact on the table:

Money downloads what the banks tell it. What is or isn't in this stream is
110% up to the banks. When things get in the stream is when the banks put
them there. Money really doesn't add or subtract much in this process. Money
connects to the bank or MSN connects to Yodlee and Yodlee scrapes the bank's
web site. Either way, there is essentially no control over what gets
downloaded or when. There are features in place to attempt to assure that
all the data the banks is willing to offer gets in your file and that there
aren't duplicates or omission in this process. But there is no control over
things like pending transactions.

Because this stream is problematic, more or less, from many banks and FIs,
I, perhaps alone amongst regulars of this the NG, do NOT download
transaction data. I enter it by hand. Yes it requires some effort. Many
users of downloaded transaction data discover that it's a lot of work to
deal with the non-normalized, not-really-designed-for-Money data that the
downloads acquire. In my case, I just enter the transaction when I get home
or soon. I will know whether the bank got it when I balance my records to
theirs at the end of the month.

You write

- quote -

Depending on downloaded transaction data will still leave the bank in
control and you will get the data when they post the items.

- quote -

Correct. And downloaded transaction data will do no better. If you want to
do better, enter the stuff as YOU know about it and then you can let the
downloaded stuff catch up. There is a mechanism--that proves more or less
problematic for many users--to "match" downloaded transactions with ones you
have entered by hand. It tries (based on date and amount similarity) to
prevent duplicating a manually entered transaction with a downloaded one.
Again, this works more or less well for users.

- quote -

Semi-serious investing probably requires Deluxe as does much in the way of
debt management, budgeting, and so on. MEss is really designed to compete
with a bank website and get you to see ads Microsoft controls rather than
ads the bank controls. (Or a meta-site like Yodlee that tries to show all
accounts in one place.) Serious investing is problematic with Money. Many
investment strategies and analysis techniques are beyond its scope. But
401(k)s and just investing-to-save (as opposed to day trading and futures
strategies and so on) work well in Money once you learn how it works and
accommodate its quirks.

"RonMcK3" <RonMcK3[at]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:60CB38A1-FC87-472E-88D7-37F67BAE15EF[at]microsoft.com...
- quote -

Or, do I need to manually enter them in Money? And, when I have done that,
what do I need to do when the real transaction finally shows up in my online
banking and downloads to Money?

Dick, you asked what I want to do with Money. I want to re-establish control
over my bank account and capture transactions as close to the time each
occurs. BofA online banking shows authorizations (initial swipe) by merchant
but not the amout with tip until it settles. Also, if merchant is slow in
submitting, then, transaction will fall off online's 'radar' and come back to
bite me later if I overlook it. Checks I write (online and handwritten) do
not show in online until BofA debits my account.

So, this tells you a little of what I want to do. I also want to pay off
bills and loans systematically and, somewhere in there, begin to so some
serious saving and investing.

---
Ron Mckenzie
Orlando, FL