Budgets Get Real FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Budgeting and Managing Your Money
Can I see what bills and expenses are ahead with Budgets Get Real?
Isn't creating a budget difficult?
Do I have to be in a particular country, or using a certain bank?
Can I keep track of my home loan or mortgage?
I just want to track my spending, but don't want to budget. Can I still use Budgets Get Real?
How much time will it take me to use Budgets Get Real?
How often will I need to use Budgets Get Real to get results?Managing Your Small Business
Can I use Budgets Get Real to run a business?
Is Budgets Get Real an accounting program?
Does my accountant need to buy a copy of the software?
More about using Budgets Get Real for Small Business.
Budgets Get Real and Your Computer
What are the computer requirements for Budgets Get Real?
Will Budgets Get Real run on an Apple Macintosh computer?
Is my information secure with Budgets Get Real?
Can I use Budgets Get Real on more than one computer?
I use both a Mac and a PC, do I need to buy two copies of Budgets Get Real?
Can I run Budgets Get Real from a USB device?Other Questions
Is Budgets Get Real easy to use?
Will Budgets Get Real work with currencies other than the dollar?
What if I have any trouble using Budgets Get Real?
Do you have some screenshots that I can look at?
How do I purchase Budgets Get Real?
How long will it take for me to receive my copy of Budgets Get Real?
Budgeting and Managing Your Money
Can I see what bills and expenses are ahead with Budgets Get Real?
Sure can! What's more, Budgets Get Real will give you an estimate of how much the bill will be - based on previous bills before it.
When you set a budget in Budgets Get Real you can set reminders for upcoming bills and expenses, no matter of how regularly or infrequently they occur. You should never be caught out by a bill again, because you'll know about it before it's due. Bills with reminders will automatically be included into your budget whenever they are due.
Isn't creating a budget difficult?
It doesn't have to be!
Most guides say that you need to track every expense over at least 4 weeks to start your budget. This seems like a lot of work - and we agree!
There's really no need to collect this information when it's all in your bank statements. Instead, you can import and categorise your transactions to use in creating your budget. Most banks will give you two months (or more) of transaction history, you only need to remember the items that haven't occurred in this time - such as insurances, rates or bills that may only arrive once a year.
What about cash, ATM withdrawals and EFTPOS?Budgets Get real as an inbuilt method for tracking these purchases and withdrawals. For starters, it lets you nominate transactions when you may have taken 'cash out' at a checkout, and track how much you are taking out at the ATM.
To see where you are spending your cash, enter the details you have on what you've spent, and take a guess and what you can't remember. Chances are that your guess will be pretty close.
Do I have to be in a particular country, or using a certain bank?
Not at all. Budgets Get Real uses a unique template system that allows it to support most banks with an online banking facility.
With support for the three most commonly used formats worldwide - CSV (Excel), OFX (Money) and QIF (Quicken) - Budgets Get Real is almost certain to be compatible with your bank. If in doubt, ask your bank if they support the export of transactions into any of these formats.
The only requirement is that all of your accounts are in one currency.
To keep Budgets Get Real simple to use we have chosen not to provide support for multiple currencies at one time.
Can I keep track of my home loan or mortgage?
As long as you have access to electronic statements, yes. Then you will be able to track interest, fees, loan repayments and withdrawals - just like you would with any other banking account.
If your bank does not provide you with electronic statements, you can still use Budgets Get Real to track your mortgage and budget for your repayments.
I just want to track my spending, but don't want to budget. Can I still use Budgets Get Real?
Definitely. One of Budgets Get Real's strengths is this sort of flexibility.
Tracking your spending in Budgets Get Real is not only quick and easy, but it's also precise. You can track your spending over any period of time, and see exactly what you've spent in any given category or even store. Budgets Get Real includes facilities for tracking electronic purchases and transfers as well as cash - meaning you can keep tabs on all of your purchases in the one place.
How much time will it take me to use Budgets Get Real?
We belive that you can get up and running with Budgets Get Real in less than 60 minutes (for non-business use)
Budgets Get Real can save you up to 90% of the time and effort that you would spend using most other budgeting or money management programs.
There are two main reasons for this:
The first is that with Budgets Get Real you download your transactions from your bank, and import them. Budgets Get Real does the rest. The second is our categorising system, it learns as you use it - do it a couple of times, and every time afterwards Budgets Get Real will do it automatically.
Even if you have a lot of transactions, it will only take you a few minutes to download a file from your bank and import it into Budgets Get Real. With other software you have to enter and categorise everything manually - just imagine how long that might take. It's a good reason to Get Real.
How often will I need to use Budgets Get Real to get results?
You only need to use Budgets Get Real as often as you want, depending on the results you wish to achieve.
If you are budgeting with a view to eliminate debt and build your savings, you might want to use Budgets Get Real once a week, to see if you are on track and what lies ahead.
If you simply want to track your spending, you may want to use Budgets Get Real less frequently. Perhaps every 1 - 3 months.
We suggest you use it at least monthly - each time you receive your monthly credit card statement. You should check your statement before paying it, because it's also a good reminder as to where you've spent your money, and a good way to see purchases that shouldn't be there.
Banks often delete their online statements every 3 months - once this happens it will not be as easy to import those transactions into Budgets Get Real. Ask your bank how long your transactions are available for download. Download and import any available transactions before your bank deletes them.
Managing Your Small Business
Can I use Budgets Get Real to run a business?
You can, but not the same way that you can with an accounting package.
It is best suited to small businesses, and this is where it excels - especially for home offices and consultants who do not want all the complication of a full accounting package. It does not allow you to create invoices or manage payrolls. Budgets Get Real can be a great tool for small business owners, who want to make sure that their business and personal finances are in good shape.
More information on using Budgets Get Real to simplify your business finances
Is Budgets Get Real an accounting program?
Yes and No.
Budgets Get Real uses the same rigorous double-entry accounting standard as
used by the top-of-the-line accounting packages, but it's hidden behind a simple interface that eliminates most of the hassles you would usually have using accounting software.
There are other differences too, which is why we prefer to call Budgets Get Real a money management system. Budgets Get Real is better suited to managing your personal or Small Business finances than a typical accounting package.
There are problems with using an accounting system to manage personal (or small business) finances - accounting packages are too complex to use and learn, most of the features that they include will not be relevant to your financial needs, and they are concerned with looking backwards at what has happened with your finances with no view towards the future.
They're also terrible at budgeting.
Nevertheless, just because Budgets Get Real is easier and simpler to use, doesn't mean that the quality of our features should be any less.
For small business Budgets Get Real makes doing your tax preparation, BAS + GST or VAT simple.
Does my accountant need to buy the software?
Not at all. All that your accountant needs to do is download a copy of Budgets Get Real to use with any files that you send them.
The idea is simple - the software is free, but it is the database that you pay for.
This database contains the information that your accountant may need to complete your tax return etc. By sending your accountant a copy of this database file, they can use Budgets Get Real for free to access the information that they need, make any necessary changes and then return the file to you.
What's more, we can provide product support to your accountant at no cost.
More about using Budgets Get Real for Small Business
More information about how Budgets Get Real could benefit you and your business:
Quicklinks
Budgets Get Real and Your Computer
What are the computer requirements for Budgets Get Real?
Budgets Get Real will run on both Windows and Macintosh computers, and a range of operating systems including Windows Vista, XP, 2003, 2000, NT, ME, 98, 95 and Mac OS X. We have designed Budgets Get Real to run on both new and older computers as well as possible. Greater detail on minimum system requirements can be found in the sidebar to your right.
Will Budgets Get Real run on an Apple Macintosh computer?
It sure will! Budgets Get Real is available for both Mac and PC. What's more, Budgets Get Real will run on both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs. As long as you are running Apple's OSX operating system (10.2.1 or greater) you should be able to run Budgets Get Real. Greater detail on minimum system requirements can be found in the sidebar to your right.
Is my information secure with Budgets Get Real?
Budgets Get Real utilises military standard encryption to protect your data.
You are also able to set a password on your copy of Budgets Get Real, giving you extra privacy and protection if you require it. This automatic encryption protects your database whether it's on your computer or being sent by email.
Can I use Budgets Get Real on more than one computer?
Yes you can. You can have a copy of the program on as many computers as you want, and copy the database (containing your latest information) to the computer that you want to use. This allows you to use it on as many computers as you want, for your own personal use. You can only use one copy of the database.
I have both a Mac and a PC, do I need to buy two copies of Budgets Get Real?
No, you only need to purchase one copy of Budgets Get Real - you will then receive a unique serial number. This will allow you to use Budgets Get Real on both Mac and PC. You will need a copy of the Mac program and a copy of the PC program, you can download these free of charge from the Budgets Get Real website.
Can I run Budgets Get Real from a USB device?
Yes! You can run Budgets Get Real from a number of USB devices, such as thumb drives and portable hard drives.
Having Budgets Get Real on a USB device can be very useful, because it allows you to take it with your wherever you go. It's especially convenient if you use Budgets Get Real on both PC and Mac, because it allows you to take Budgets Get Real with you - for example you may use a PC at work and a Mac at home, and want to use Budgets Get Real on both. You can do this with a USB device.
Due to the nature of USB hardware you may experience that Budgets Get Real runs slower when
opened directly from a USB device. You can overcome this problem by dropping Budgets Get Real on to your desktop before use, and then copying it back to your USB device when you have finished.
Other Questions
Is Budgets Get Real easy to use?
Budgets Get Real have been designed with flexibility and ease of use in mind.
We have tried to take as much work out of money management as possible. The idea is simple, that the less work you have to do, the easier it will be overall.
Budgets Get Real includes 1 year of free support (speak directly with the product creators), and an Easy Setup Guide so that you can get set up and started right away!
Will Budgets Get Real work with currencies other than the dollar?
Budgets Get Real will work with every currency in the world (except for two). It supports any currency with a decimal base (ie. 0.00), this includes the Dollar, Euro, Pound, Franc, Yen, Yuan, Ruble, Dinar, Real and many others.
Budgets Get Real supports all of these currencies, but in the interest of simplicity and efficiency we have done away with the option of using multiple currencies at once - because most people (and businesses) will never need it.
What if I have any trouble using Budgets Get Real?
Budgets Get Real comes bundles with an extensive, graphical help system and a number of tutorials. Our help system is graphical, because research has proven that people understand best through a combination of graphics and text.
If you require additional information or support, you can contact Budgets Get Real support, free of charge to have you queries answered by the program developers themselves!
Do you have some screenshots that I can look at?
Absolutely. You can view some screenshots of Budgets Get Real here. These give an idea of the look, feel and features that our software provides you with. There are more screenshots given here with an example of how to create a custom report for tracking expenses.
Alternatively, you can buy a copy of Budgets Get Real and try it for 60 Days with our Money Back Guarantee.
You can purchase Budgets Get Real through our online store - on which we offer a full 60 Day Money Back Guarantee.
This store is not only secure, but it is insured by leading e-commerce security group, Comodo. This is in addition to the security provided to you by either your credit card company or Paypal (or both!). The security of your details and your peace of mind is very important to us.
Click here to review our security credentials and purchase with confidence.
How long will it take for me to receive my copy of Budgets Get Real?
Budgets Get Real is available for immediate download, so you won't have to wait very long at all, only as long as it takes to download.
No waiting for mail to arrive, simply download it at a time of your convenience and begin budgeting straight away.
If you have any further questions - click here to contact us.
Try Budgets Get Real today! Click here to put our 60 day Money Back Guarantee to the test.
System Requirements
For Windows PC
Windows Vista, XP, 2003, 2000, NT, ME, 98, or 95
640 x 480 or greater screen resolution
At least 20MB of available hard disk space
Internet access and web browser
For Macintosh
OSX 10.2.1 onwards
Power PC G3, G4 or G5 processor
640 x 480 or greater screen resolution
At least 20MB of available hard disk space.
Internet access and web browser
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