FAQs About Money Tools Savings Planner And Tracking PC Software  

Can I delete a savings goal?
Can I rename a savings goal?
Can I change my savings goal amount or date?
How do I enter the amount I currently have saved toward a savings goal?
How do I enter a withdrawal from my savings account?
How do I delete old transactions?
What is a regular deposit?
How do I enter a regular deposit?
How much should I regularly save for my goals?
How can I select the deposit frequency (day, week, month, etc.) that is used to calculate the recommended deposit on the Savings Items Details report?
How do I get my name on the reports?
What does the This Month button in the Reports window do?
How can I move my data files to another directory?
How can I move or copy my data files onto another computer?
Can I install this program on my desktop and laptop computer?
Something strange is happening. Can I reinstall the program without losing my data files?

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Can I delete a savings goal?   Back To Questions

Yes. But if you have entered transactions for that savings goal they will also be deleted. In the Savings Goals window, select the item in the list then select the Delete button. You will be asked if you are sure that you want to delete the goal. Select Yes to delete the goal and any associated transactions.


Can I rename a savings goal?   Back To Questions

Yes. You can rename a savings goal anytime using the Savings Goals window.


Can I change my savings goal amount or date?   Back To Questions

Yes. You can change any editable savings goal information at any time using the Savings Goals window.


How do I enter the amount I currently have saved toward a savings goal?   Back To Questions

When you select the New button to enter a new savings goal you may also enter the starting amount or the amount that you currently have saved towards that goal. If you forget to enter the starting amount just enter a transaction for the current amount.


How do I enter a withdrawal from my savings account?   Back To Questions

Enter the transaction as a negative amount (e.g., -100.00) to specify a withdrawal from the account for that savings goal.


How do I delete old transactions?   Back To Questions

You don't. Each transaction record is needed to calculate the current balance or current amount saved for each savings goal. If the savings goal is no longer in use, delete it to delete its associated transactions. It's a good idea to delete old savings goals after the information is no longer needed. This keeps your data files small, saves room on your disk drive, and keeps the program operating quickly.


What is a regular deposit?   Back To Questions

If you make regular deposits into your savings account(s) with your paycheck or on a monthly basis, Simple Joe's Money Ahead allows you to set up a Regular Deposit group that helps to speed the account transaction entry.

For example, Joe deposits $200 each month into his savings account. $100 goes towards his new car, $50 towards Christmas expenses and $50 towards the European vacation he is going to take in 10 years.

Joe can create a regular deposit that is made up of these three savings goals (the goals should each be created beforehand). He designates that the first goal, "New Car," will get 50% of the deposit amount. The next two goals, "Christmas" and "European Vacation," will get 25% each.

This works out well for Joe because he just has to enter the deposit date, amount, an optional note and then select the regular deposit he named "Monthly Deposit" and each of these three savings goal deposit transactions will be automatically added. Joe can also split up any extra money he can deposit into his savings account. If Joe deposits $300 instead of his regular $200, the $300 is split up base on the 50%, 25%, and 25% portions for each savings goal.

Or Joe could make his regular $200 deposit (selecting the regular deposit "Monthly Deposit") and then make an additional deposit of the remaining $100 into his "European Vacation" savings goal. Money Ahead gives Joe that flexibility.


How do I enter a regular deposit?   Back To Questions

In the Transactions window, enter the deposit date, amount, an optional note. Then select the desired regular deposit and click on the Post button. The percentage based amounts will be calculated and the deposit for each savings goal will be automatically entered into the list.


How much should I regularly save for my goals?   Back To Questions

If earning interest on your savings is going to be a significant factor in your savings plan, use the Calculator window to determine how much you will need to save each month to achieve your goal in the time allotted based on the interest rate you expect to receive.

If earning interest is not significant or you are saving for a goal within a year or two, you can use the Deposit Calculator tool at the bottom of the Savings Goals window. Just pick the frequency of your deposits to calculate how much you should deposit each time.


How can I select the deposit frequency (day, week, month, etc.) that is used to calculate the recommended deposit on the Savings Items Details report?   Back To Questions

The last frequency used with the Deposit Calculator in the Savings Goals window is the time period frequency used to do the recommended deposit calculations on the Savings Items Details report.


How do I get my name on the reports?   Back To Questions

Select the Settings/Tools button from the Menu windowand enter your name in the box labeled Your Name.


What does the This Month button in the Reports window do?   Back To Questions

The This Month button in the Reports window will enter the first and last dates of the current month into the From and To boxes. This is useful when you are printing monthly reports.


How can I move my data files to another directory?   Back To Questions

Use the Move Data Files tool located in the Settings & Tools window.


How can I move or copy my data files onto another computer?   Back To Questions

After Money Ahead is installed on the new comptuer, copy your data files to a floppy disk or through the network to your new computer and into the program folder ("C:\Program Files\money-ahead" by default).

To determine where your data files are located and where the program files are located click on the product logo in the Menu window. This will open the About window, which shows you the version date of the program as well as it's location and the location of your data files.

To move your data files you will need to move all of the files with a "CDX", "DBF", or "FPT" extension to your new location. (If you cannot see the file extensions (e.g., FILE.EXT), in Explorer, select View | Folder Options | View tab, and uncheck the "Hide file extensions for known file types" option; about the 8th line in the box.)

If you want to keep your data files in a location other than the program folder (money-ahead), first place them in the program folder and then run Money Ahead and use the Move Data Files tool in the Settings & Tools window. This way Money Ahead will know where to find them.


Can I install this program on my desktop and laptop computer?   Back To Questions

Yes! Simple Joe's Software Use Agreement allows you to use the software on more than one computer so long as you are the only user of the software on each computer. We don't squeeze you for extra licensing fees by limiting software use to one "user" or one "computer." See the Software Use Agreement for more information about who can use the software and how it may be installed.

So if you have a desktop and a laptop, feel free to install Simple Joe software on both machines. Just remember the data files are separate and the data in them may be different on each machine.


Something strange is happening.
Can I reinstall this program without losing my data files?   Back To Questions

Yes. The installation routine checks for current data files and will not overwrite them if they already exist. To reinstall completely, either run the Uninstall program from your Start menu or delete all the files in the program folder ("C:\Program Files\money-ahead" by default).