Microsoft Money installs very fast. I was able to install it to a directory I designated. After installation, I retrieved my quicken files and it converted them without any problems. I found out that it left my original Quicken files intact and created a Microsoft Money file. I found it very easy to enter the data into the appropriate fields. The cash flow reports can be compared from month to month. The graphs are easier to set up. The home screen was better to read than the Quicken Deluxe. I did not have to worry about how many quick tabs I had left open. There was audio to help me with the use of the software.

The Home page for Microsoft Money is much more detailed than the Quicken home page. The Microsoft Money Home page tells you everything at a glance. All the information is in front of you. Quicken does not have that feature. The home page also tells you when the bills are due and if there are any that are overdue. There are nine other views for the home page. In the Accounts and Bills view, there are videos you can click on to assist in entering data and balancing the accounts. Those videos demonstrate how to perform the task. You can also customize the home page to suit your own preferences. A pop up window appears and prompts you to determine which features you want to display on the Home Page. I use either the Normal or Accounts and Bills view. You can sort the account by date, amount in descending or ascending order.

On the Home page screen, if you accidentally delete a portion of the screen, you can get back what you removed by clicking on Customize and a pop up window appears. Click on Restore Default and click OK. The accidentally deleted portions reappear. Microsoft Money can be set up to remind you of upcoming bills. In the bills and deposits section on the Home page, click on a deposit item and you will be taken to a screen. There, an audio will assist you to enter or edit any recurring or upcoming bill.

The debt reduction planner is easy to use. All I had to do was to type in a few items such as the interest rate and the monthly payment. I had my results immediately. The information on my debt reduction was on the Microsoft Money home page. In addition, the debt reduction progress could also be found on the home page. When I wanted to use Quicken for the debt reduction planner, the software prompted me for the CD installation disk.

I was able to obtain a transaction report in Microsoft Money 2003. I noticed that it had a number of options including printing the detail and a running balance. I experimented with all those features to obtain the desired report.

Microsoft Money also projects cash flow to determine if there is enough money in the accounts to meet all scheduled expenses and budgeted items. The graph is also present on the home page.

Recurring deposits can be entered. Microsoft Money can help with entering those types of transactions. An audio also plays to help entering the transaction. A graph is also shown that projects cash glow for the next two weeks. In addition the potential recurring transactions also how on the home page.

Whenever you are working on an account, you can change the view by clicking on View and a menu appears. Then click on the type of view you want. Working on an account is simple. On the home screen, click on the account and it then pops up. You can even enter the transaction data in a form.

Overall, Microsoft Money is very easy to use. If you follow the instructions, audio and videos, you should have no problem in setting up your accounts.