It's really pretty easy to set up personal finance software. Just start with setting up accounts that mirror your real financial accounts, then let the software guide you through the rest. So why do people so often try to take short cuts when the set up is already anything but time consuming? Maybe plowing through stuff like setting up software is just human nature, or maybe people are just lazy. Or both.

Here's a look at some short cuts that are guaranteed to cause problems with personal finance software, sooner or later.

All personal finance software will show you a list of bills that are coming due.  While looking over that list is a really easy way to determine when you need to sit down with the checkbook or onlinebill pay, being able to see your bills on a monthly calendar can add a better perspective to when you're going to need the funds to pay bills.  Learn more about financial calendars in personal finance software, and what software titles offer this calendar.

Image: moneyStrands financial calendar

How to Choose Personal Finance Software: What Financial Features Do You Need? is a great resource for people who are trying to decide on which personal finance software will work best for them, and for those who have been using the software, but are looking to change to another title.  The article goes through the most critical features and benefits in financial software so you can select those that are most important to you and then look for those features in the software product descriptions.

Once you understand the features in personal finance software, you may decide that you don't want general money management. If that's the case, check out debt reduction software, budgeting software, do-it-yourself financial planning and other software that fits into a specific financial need.

Here's another tutorial for newbies, or for people who want to know how personal finance software works and what the benefits are. Tracking Income in Personal Finance Software explains payments and other income that should be included in your software so budget and net worth reports are accurate, along with account balances. You will also learn how to deal with entering income for salaries, hourly wages and other types in your personal finance software.

More Tutorials

• Setting Up Accounts
• Using a Budget
• Tracking Cash: Pocket Change, Donations and More