Financial tracking software, outside the States, Mac computer

[wintersun]

I am looking for a financial tracking system.  I have a Macbook Air and can no longer use the Quicken 2007 I had on my previous computer.

My bank does not allow software to connect and download account info. 

I am not going to be tracking investments right now, but I want to know at the end of each year what I spent with individualised categories and subcategories and to compare to previous years. I was very happy with Quicken 2007 although I had not used it much.

Quicken Essentials has very negative reviews online.  I signed up for Mint however connecting with my bank seemed to be essential to it.

What do you advise?

[MilStachian]

Wintersun,
You can try the new Quicken and just download QDF files from your bank and import as needed.  Certainly not as seamless as Mint.com or being able to directly connect with the Quicken software, but should meet your need.

[geekette]

Quicken Essentials is a nerfed version of Quicken, IMHO, but if you're just tracking expenses, it might work for you (assuming you don't mind putting in the info instead of relying on software to do it all for you). 

I have a Mac, but also run Windows using Parallels for the express purpose of keeping our decades of Quicken info intact and useful.

[beltim]

If your bank won't allow software to connect, won't you have to enter information by hand anyway? In which case, I don't really see any reason to change programs.

[Joel]

Have you looked at ynab?

[randomstring]

I have a bank that does not allow connections. I export the transactions ( several formats ) and import into tracking software. We use moneywell for Mac, it is fairly nice. Some ppl also recommended gnu cash which is free, so if you are starting from scratch you can try it.

( unlike most users around here I did not like ynab )

Ps: moneywell also has an iOS client. It is really useful for keeping track of cash expenses on te go.

[wintersun]

Thank-you for all your replies!
Milstachian I wasn't sure  whether the new Quicken Essentials was any good, the reviews have been so awful, it has been hard to figure out whther it would meet my needs or not.  Downloading qdf files and importing them sounds good, I will look into that.

Beltim, the only reason to change programmes is because Quicken 2007 doesn't work on Macbook Air as far as I can see.  I am wondering if anyone here recommends Quicken Essentials for basic tracking.

Joel, I am not terribly techie and have tried downloading ynab and had trouble. 

Randomstring, I am glad to hear that it is possible to export the transactions and import into tracking software.

My big concern is being able to personalise my categories since I am not in the USA and do not have some of the categories an American would have.  I also do not want to use an envelope system.  I will let you all knowwhatI end up with.  Thanks so much.

[beltim]

Oh, I see.  I haven't tried it myself, but Intuit released a version of Quicken 2007 for OS X Lion, which I would guess addresses the issue of it working on a Macbook Air.

http://quicken.intuit.com/support/help/lion-compatible-quicken-mac-2007/GEN83769.html

[wintersun]

Beltim-  Oooh, thanks I think I will go with that, you are a doll!

[WageSlave]

Another vote for GnuCash.  Free/open source, cross-platform (Mac, Windows, Linux).  I've been using it happily for years now.  There is some learning curve, but IMO, it's useful stuff to learn anyway (fundamental accounting principles). 

[wintersun]

I appreciate all the help, and I am trying the 34 day trial of YNAB.  It turns out to be quite in sync with me so far so we shall see.  Joel suggesting it made me look at it one more time.