How to Set Up Quicken 2009
Quicken by Intuit is an extremely popular financial software package, far outpacing second place Microsoft Money. Quicken has become the default, go-to software for all types of accounts, from simple savings accounts to huge brokerage portfolios and everything in between. Available in many flavors for both Macs and Windows computers, Quicken has historically been fairly easy to set up and configure. Quicken 2009 is no exception.
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Instructions
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Buy Quicken. You can get it through any software retailer, or by downloading it from the Intuit website.
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Install Quicken by double clicking on the icon (either on the CD or the download). You'll be prompted through a wizard that facilitates the install for non-techy types.
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Launch Quicken once the install process has completed. Here you will enter your name.
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Create a new file when prompted, and name it. A file can have multiple accounts, including checking, savings, loans, mortgages, brokerage and credit cards.
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Create each new account when the New Account Assistant window opens. Here, you'll have the opportunity to link your Quicken account with your bank. By choosing your financial institution, you have the choice of auto-filling the fields by letting Quicken set up your accounts, or you can enter your account information manually. Of course, you can always skip this step.
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Choose the type of account to add. Accounts are grouped in three categories: Cash Flow, Investments and Property & Debt. You will be asked to name each account to easily differentiate it from the others. Choose easy to remember names, like "Checking" and "MasterCard." Repeat this step for each account you add to Quicken.
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Enter the ending date and balance from your last statement. This can be done from your hardcopy statement of by checking your balance online.
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Tips & Warnings
Take your time setting up accounts, because too much at once can be overwhelming. Check online for coupons before buying Quicken. Look for special offers that allow you to upgrade from earlier versions.
Deleting an account in Quicken can't be undone. Don't forget to back up your data.
Resources
- Photo Credit Images 1, 7: Intuit, Images 2, 3, 4, 5, 6: Chris Capelle
