How many of you use personal finance software like Quicken or MS Money?

If you know me, then you’ve no doubt already heard my schlep on tracking your finances and the power that this creates.  Now, usually I have my taxes done in February – right after Turbo Tax releases final updates and all reporting forms have been received.  This year, however, we’ve had other priorities – move, business, baby – you know – you’ve been keeping up with our journey.

Isn’t it odd – the whole Easter – Tax connection?  Christ battled the tax collectors of the mighty Roman Empire.  It’s also a time where many people are unsure, but hoping to find a little Easter egg with a tax refund in it.  Sometime’s that egg cracks.  Or sometimes finding those valuable receipts is like a little Easter egg hunt looking through drawers, cupboards, shoeboxes, glove compartments and attics.  Whew!

Google is great.  I love Amazon.  Wikipedia is THE knowledge resource.  And it is highly likely that I am more sane because of the brain dumps in this blog that keep my cranial pressure at a minimum.  But without financial and tax software – the information age would be a waste.

So, here I am on April 9th – 1 week before the almighty tax return deadline – and I’m sweating it out with the rest of those procrastinators out there.  (Could that be you??)  But, if you don’t use software to track your expenses all year long and to file your return automatically, then my sweat was probably a lot different than yours.  If that’s the case – convert this year and let this be your incentive: I started 2 hours and 20 minutes ago and I’m done.

Turbo tax walked me through our house sale, charitable donations, medical expenses, investments, interest, business expenses, etc, etc.  Easy of course because I am not fumbling through our box of, oh, probably 1000 receipts or so (every receipt from most every cash or debit purchase all year long).  No Easter egg hunts.  It just imported data from MS Money and told me what was deductible and what wasn’t.   No surprises.  No hard work.  No kicking myself for losing that $1500 donation receipt.

I’m done and in 6 days – like clockwork – our automatic deposit will hit the bank both from the IRS and Indiana.  That’s a huge chunk of change for 2 hours of work.  Well, I guess the work was done every week – probably 10 minutes each week entering receipts.  Still a good investment of time.

Author | Dave Darby

Dave Darby is a husband, father of 5, son, entrepreneur, speaker and well, a renaissance man who frequently needs to dump his brain on thoughts about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.