| ![Microsoft Money Deluxe 2005 [Old Version]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51J5MJEEE3L._SL500_.jpg)
| From: Microsoft Software
List Price: $59.99
Buy Used: $19.95
You Save: $40.04 (67%)
Rating:  57 reviews
Sales Rank: 4408
Format: Cd-rom
Platforms: Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows Xp
Media: CD-ROM
Edition: Deluxe
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Operating System: Windows 98
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.4 x 1.4
MPN: 86000349
Model: 860-00349
UPC: 805529809864
EAN: 0805529809864
ASIN: B0002D12D4
Release Date: September 13, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: CD-ROM, plastic case and booklet like new are excellent condition. Missing box, manual book. Ships immediately.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 57
 Money Like It's 2002 - Good Software, Frustrating Upgrade October 11, 2004
Michael J. Descy (Somerville, MA USA)
29 out of 33 found this review helpful
I've used MS Money since 2000, and upgraded in the past from Money 2000 to Money 2002 without incident. Not this year.
Upgrading from Money 2002 to Money 2005 with all the new web features was a major headache. When I tried setting up online services for my existing accounts (web synching with the MS Passport), some of my accounts disappeared and could not be recovered. Some accounts became duplicated, and the account merge functionality did not allow me to merge them (it listed the wrong accounts). It also reassigns some categories, like Groceries, without telling you. Uncool.
I ended up disabling the Passport online options and now I'm using the program just like Money 2002, which is fine, I guess, but not exactly what I wanted.
If you are starting to use personal finance software for the first time, I highly recommend this product and give it 4 stars.
If you are upgrading and have many accounts like I do, I offer can only give this product 2 stars. You may have better luck that me, though.
Average: 3 stars.
 2005 version worth trying - Don't believe all the negatives November 14, 2004
JD Robins (USA)
25 out of 27 found this review helpful
Microsoft Money 2005 appears to be a solid product based on my experience to date. I upgraded from money 2004, and I have not encountered anything that would prevent me from continuing to use Money 2005.
I was wary of the product after reading the negative feedback so I downloaded the trial version before buying. (I definitely recommend this approach before purchasing.) Money 2005 will convert your file to the new version, however it does make a copy of your existing file in the event you choose to return to your previous version of Money. (If you're not comfortable with Money's automated method of creating a copy of your original file, then manually make your own copy or backup file)
After converting my file and using Money 2005 I found most everything to function as it did in the 2004 version, and I didn't find anything too unusual or out of place. I do keep my file password protected; however I do not use the Passport password feature (I use the local Money file password) because I do not feel the need to check my finances from other computers via the internet. The password feature works the same in 2005 as it did in the 2004 version.
In spite of my positive remarks, there are two negative responses I have read that I must concede to those who have responded before me:
First, after installing my purchased version of Money 2005 I was prompted to download software updates from the internet. The fact that software updates are necessary makes me think there may be some validity to the complaints of bugs from the early adopters of the software.
Second, the file conversion process did indeed change my Food:Dining out and Food:Groceries subcategories into new "Dining Out" and "Groceries" stand alone categories respectively, and eliminated the existing subcategories. Every transaction that was once associated with Food:Groceries was transformed to the "Groceries" category and the same for the dining out transactions.
I'm not opposed to the new categories, but the installation process should have asked me if I wanted to change my categories or leave my existing categories as is.
I prefer the previous subcategories so I simply went into the "set up your categories" option and changed the "Groceries" category to a subcategory under the "Food" category, and I did the same with dining out. This changed all the transactions back to the categorization that I am accustomed to.
As for the complaints about Money requiring a Passport ID and logon, it's not true.
It is true that in order to take advantage of certain software features you must have a Passport ID and password. Those three features are:
1) Automated transaction updates and balancing at pre determined intervals,
2) Receive automated updates from institutions not using OFX (Open Financial Exchange) protocol,
3) Review your Money information from any computer connected to the internet
The steps to create a new file without the Passport password is:
File ==> New File
Click "Next"
DECLINE the "Protect your Online privacy and Security" option
Answer "YES" that you want to continue without a Passport
Then create a local password, or select the "I do not want to use a password for my Money file" option.
Why did I upgrade: 1) my financial institution is now in the list of supported on-line institutions, and 2) I take advantage of the FREE Federal tax filing option with H&R Block offered with the purchase of the Money software each year. In doing so it saves me the $25+ filing fee thus reducing the net cost of the software to a more than reasonable price.
If you are considering updating to the new version I definitely recommend downloading the trial version and giving it a try. And don't believe all the horror stories from the few that have not taken the time to completely understand the new version.
 Disappointed, I am going back to MS Money 2004 December 28, 2004
Eric Gibson (San Diego, CA USA)
23 out of 23 found this review helpful
I upgraded/updated to MS Money Deluxe 2005 two weeks ago and should have listened to the previous reviewers. The upgrade deleted categories, created duplicative accounts and generally messed up 10 years of personal financial data. It appears that this software has become complicated to the point that it is counter productive. Given that Quicken 2005 also gets terrible reviews, I recommend just staying with what you have until either Microsoft or Intuit get their act together. I am hoping that I can restore my previous Money 2004 file and get my "money" back on this dog.
Here's a fix for the missing subcategory list January 3, 2005
William W. Davis (Boca Raton, FL USA)
23 out of 24 found this review helpful
The reviews for Money 2005 are very good -- I suggest reading them all to see what you're in for.
The big problems for me were:
1) The ability to have separate category and subcategory lists was removed from the transaction form
2) I couldn't easily use the 'Transfer' category, especially in a split category
3) Annoying duplicate account creation
On the first problem, Money 2005 uses just one combined category-subcategory list, so when you enter a transaction, you must choose a category-subcategory from one big list. I prefer two distinct selections because it's quicker to enter and easier to find my subcategories. Microsoft provides a Registery edit in the following Knowledgebase article:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;889931
I used the edit, and my separate lists are restored. Great, but I am irritated that Money 2005 removed this option and provided no way for a user to change this behavior short of a Registery hack.
On the 2nd problem, my ability to 'Transfer' amounts to different account was resolved once I split my subcategory lists from my category lists using the above Registery hack. Now, transfers operate as they did in Money 2003, which is the last version I was using.
On the 3rd problem, one financial institution has, for the 2nd time, downloaded duplicate accounts. I hope it's an anomoly, but we'll see. Other accounts operate fine.
I haven't explored the strengths of 2005 yet -- this was just post-upgrade issues I've wrestled with over the New Year's weekend. On the surface, doesn't look like much new is useful to me.
On the matter of online bill payment, I already had that through Wachovia bank (formerly First Union). I guess what's new is that Microsoft now makes bill payment through Money work with many institutions. Since Wachovia already provided this function, I don't think I'm adversely affected...or benefitted (though Wachovia dropped the $6 monthly fee for using Money's bill payment function).
One final piece of advice: after you install, don't open your Money data file unless/until you have had Money perform all its software updates. For me, I opened my Money 2003 file, was prompted to convert to Money 2005 file format, and then Money 2005 automatically downloaded software patches afterwards. Wondering whether my conversion worked right nor not, I chose to open a backup of my Money 2003 data file using the patched copy of Money 2005, so any software bug fixes related to data conversion were already installed in Money 2005.
I gave it a 2-star rating based solely on the upgrade process. This upgrade, bad as it was, was better than when I upgraded from Money 2000 to Money 2001!
This software is junk January 15, 2005
R. Blanton
22 out of 25 found this review helpful
I would not recommend tracking your finances with this software.
When it works as it's supposed to, it's fine. The problem comes when you invest all of your precious time to enter your financial data, and then one of it's serious bugs causes it to become unusable.
I can't edit my paychecks now (not even change the date) because it will tell me that any edit will cause one of my 401K account balances to become negative at some point in the future. This is nonsense, of course.
Also, it crashes anytime I try to download a statement from anywhere.
I am so angry now I can't see straight (over a decade of financial records in Money and now it's junk). I surfed Microsoft's website, and I can't even find anywhere where I can send an e-mail complaint.
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