How to Record a Checkbook on Money Home & Business Plus

Use Money Plus Home and Business to monitor and record checks.

The Microsoft Money Plus Home and Business software is a powerful tool to record, track and monitor finances, including checking accounts. The software can be set up and used relatively easily. It allows users to transfer current written checkbook information, reconcile expenditures, categorize expenses, and even interface and access checking account information directly from a bank or financial institution. It is important to note that Microsoft stopped activating software for new purchasers in January 2010. However, existing owners can still use the software.

Things You'll Need

• MS Money Plus Home and Business Software purchased prior to January 2010
• Check records
• Check expense categories
• Banking information (optional, to connect software with bank/financial institution)

Instructions

Record Checks

1. Get your bank information handy, including the name of your bank and account number(s).

2. Open MS Money Home and Business Plus on your computer. Click "Banking" under the Choose Account Type tab. Click "Add a New Account."

3. Select and give a name for your banking account that is easy to remember. Use category names for multiple accounts. For example, use "Home" or "Business."

4. Your account is now ready to use manually to enter and record your checking account information in the fields provided.

Connect Software With Bank

1. 

   You can also set up the software to provide updates from your bank.

   Disable any pop-up blockers installed on your Internet browser so that you can launch the MS Money software and correctly configure it to retrieve existing checking account information from your bank or financial institution.

2. Select the "Internet Options" tab on your browser. Select the "Security" tab. Select "Custom Level," and look for the "Scripting" tab. Select "Active Scripting" and select "Enable." Select "OK" to save your changes.

3. Click "Add New Account."Click "Next." Type in the name of your bank or financial institution.

4. If the name you need is not displayed, click the "My bank or brokerage isn't listed" selection, and then click "Next." The software will then guide you through the necessary steps to enable communication between your bank and the software program.

5. If the set up does not work, contact Microsoft for troubleshooting.

Set Account Update Preferences

1. 

   Use reporting features to categorize expenses and help with budgeting.

   Select the account update features to correspond with the type of information and frequency of reports you wish to receive.

2. After you receive confirmation that your software is connected to your bank's system, follow instructions to view reports and verify that the information is correct. Review the reports initially to customize and make changes.

3. Use ongoing reports to monitor, adjust and revise your Home or Business Plus software features as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Determine whether you want to use the software to manually record checks and expenses--or if you want to connect it with your checking account at your bank or financial institution. Be prepared to spend time to make sure that your software is connecting and interfacing with the computer network for your bank or financial institution.

• MS Money Home and Business Plus software was discontinued from sale in July 2009. However, existing owners can still use the software and obtain help and technical support from Microsoft. Consider Quicken 2010 to interface with Money Plus data as an alternative.

References

• Buy.com: Money Plus
• Quicken.com: Use Money Data on Quicken

Resources

• Microsoft.com: Money Plus Discontinuation Notice
• Microsoft.com: Money Plus Support