Getting money for Gnucash development [was Re: Newbie migration issues]

[Robert Uhl]

Rod Engelsman <rodengelsman at ruraltel.net> writes:
>
> > I disagree, actually.  It wasn't until I started using double entry
> > accounting and gnucash that I started to manage my finances, and am
> > now extremely well off relative to where I started.  The Italians
> > had the same experience when they first invented it.
>
> What exactly can you do with gnucash that you can't do with Quicken?

The same things that the Italians were suddenly able to do when they
invented double-entry accounting which they weren't previously able to
do.  Their discovery fuelled the Renascence--mine has lifted me out of a
hole.  Being able to watch how money dances is an illuminating
experience.

> I'm happy for you for your financial success, but I would attribute
> that more to discipline and (in the case of investments) a bit of good
> luck.

But my point is that the discipline has sprung from the tool.  I used to
think I was disciplined, but I wasn't.  It's much like the difference
between writing a paper with an outline and without.  Every single
person who writes a stream-of-consciousness paper in college will claim
to his deathbed that he had an outline all in his head--but that's not
the same thing at all.  The situation is very similar with accounting:
once one groks double-entry accounting, suddenly the scales fall from
one's eyes and one has a 'eureka!' moment.

> > I beg to differ.  I'm very happy using gnucash to track my cheques,
> > keep to my budget and track investments--it's done _really_ well for
> > me.  I don't really use it for tax purposes, so I can't speak to
> > that.
>
> So where's the budgeting tools?  There are a lot of reporting tools to
> tell you what you have done, but none that I can see for planning
> purposes.  Something that helps you look at your income and decide
> what you can spend for various things.

That's kinda approaching budgeting from the wrong angle.  The last week
of the year I look at the past year's actuals for each expense account
(or account tree) and work out what I can expect to spend for the next
twelve, allowing for a certain amount of inflation.  I then make sure
that the total budget is below my paycheque, and life is good.

As for keeping me to my budget, I've devised a system which takes
advantage of double entry to handle budgeting.

> And this same something to help you compare what you planned with what
> you are actually doing.

Again, I do this when I run the year's actual with projected expenses.

> Taxes are an important part of you financial picture, particularly
> with regard to investments. So if you don't use the tax tools in
> gnucash, then how has this application helped you in that regard?

It hasn't.  When I do my taxes, I just collate all the tax forms I get
from financial management companies, charities, employer &c., enter into
a web tax tool and go to sleep:-)

-- 
Robert Uhl <http://public.xdi.org/=ruhl>
A little science estranges a man from God.  A lot of science brings him
back.                                --apoc. attr. to Sir Francis Bacon