Microsoft Money and Money Plus give you two ways to view categories and subcategories while entering transactions and when you view account registers. Both methods of viewing and choosing categories in Microsoft Money use the identical list of categories and subcategories, each simply represents the information a bit differently and the method chosen depends on your personal preference.
Microsoft Money and Money Plus are interchangeable in this tutorial. Click on the images to enlarge them.
Microsoft Money Default Category List Preference
Screen Shot by Shelley Elmblad
If you do not change your category settings in Microsoft Money, the default settings for transaction categories and subcategories appear combined with a colon separating the two. For example, Utilities: Electricity.
Microsoft Money Categories and Subcategories in Separate Lists
Screen Shot by Shelley Elmblad
If you prefer, you can view a category and then choose a subcategory from a separate list in Microsoft Money. For example, first choose Utilities from one list, the subcategories for Utilities appear and Electricity is chosen from this list.
Change How Categories and Subcategories Display in Microsoft Money
Screen Shot by Shelley Elmblad
- Look in the upper-right corner of Money to see if you are using the Advanced Account Register, which shows up under the question mark for Money help. If you see Essential Register, switch to the Advanced Account Register.
- Click on the Tools menu on the upper left in Money.
- Click on Settings, then click on Category settings.
- Under Category settings, make one of these selections:
- To view categories and subcategories separately, click the box next to 'Use the dual category dropdown control check box'.
- To view categories and subcategories in one list, clear the check box next to 'Use the dual category dropdown control check box'.
- Click OK, and your Microsoft Money category setting is complete.