Please help. I would like to teach myself bookkeeping and accounting. I know there is software available; but which one for a beginner like me? I want something that tells me how to set up a spreadsheet, how to balance my checkbook, how to use formulas. I want it to assume I know NOTHING. 'Cause I don't! What do you use? What did it cost? What level of knowledge did you have when you started using it? Thanks all. Stef.

-- stef (sbrogers@csonline.net), January 16, 2002

Answers

I did a search for "accounting freeware" and got a lot of hits. Why not try these?

-- Kevin (kevinmail@earthlink.net), January 16, 2002.

I think QuickBooks is one of the leaders in bookkeeping software. Peachtree is another. I have Quickbooks if you're interested. I didn't need all it offered and just use Quicken Home & Business instead. The extra things QuickBooks did I didn't need. Let me know.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), January 17, 2002.

Peachtree (really hard and you need lots of differant "modules" as you progress) and Quickbooks don't "TEACH" you accounting/bookkeeping. You need a teaching software. Check on either Zdnet.com or Cnet.com for some free teaching softwares. They are loaded with all kinds of freeware and shareware.

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), January 17, 2002.

I am a self taught bookkeeper. The first thing you have to know is your basic math, including percentages. Once you have that its learning the terminology of books eg: what are accounts recievable. You can learn these by using an accounting program such as quickbooks and looking up the definitions (quickbooks does provide the definitions under help) for the different terms you don't understand. After learning the terms its fairly easy to do basic bookkeeping.

After learning what the basic terms are then its a matter of knowing the computer program. Quickbooks is a simple program where the things you are doing, like writing checks, looks like a check.

To learn how to balance a checkbook look at the back of your checking statement. Almost all of them tell you how to balance your checkbook.

Basic bookkeeping is not difficult.

-- Stacia in OK (OneClassyCowgirl@aol.com), January 17, 2002.

Stacia, I would agree that basic bookkeeping is not difficult. Now, accounting.....Grrrrr.

I can balance my checkbook, so I figure I'm doing better than a lot of people. *grin*. I can't believe how many people don't even bother.

Now, Stef might want to start with Quicken instead of Quickbooks, to do her own personal finances. It also makes it easy to do your taxes at the end of the year.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 17, 2002.