From Shelley Elmblad,
Your Guide to Financial Software.
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Although Microsoft Money adds "Plus" to what would have been Microsoft Money 2008, aside from a few new features Microsoft Money Plus looks and works just like past versions of this personal finance software. Among the new features in Microsoft Money Plus is enhanced background banking which makes using a Live ID or Passport log in unnecessary for automatic account updates.

Microsoft Money Standard

Microsoft Money 2006 users need to upgrade in 2008 due to the expiration of Internet-based services. Microsoft phased out Money Standard in 2007 and Microsoft Money Essentials, now the most basic Microsoft Money version, does not import Microsoft Money data. This leaves Microsoft Money Standard users with the alternative of upgrading to Microsoft Money Plus Deluxe for 2008, or entering transactions manually and losing some of the Internet-driven features in Money Standard 2006.

Microsoft Money Plus Insights

Microsoft Money Plus Deluxe, Premium and Home and Business include the new Insights feature. Insights are visual financial reports pulled from Microsoft Money and presented in the Windows task bar. The benefit of Microsoft Money Plus Insights is that you need not open Microsoft Money Plus to be alerted to when you are close to budgeted spending limits, when bills are coming due or to get a quick look at account balances.

Microsoft Money Plus includes Cash Flow Insights, Spending Insights and Bills Insights.

Image Linking in Microsoft Money Plus

Another new feature in Microsoft Money Plus Deluxe, Premium and Home and Business is the ability to link image files and other file types to transactions. This is useful for documenting expenses entered into an account register with a scanned or copied and saved image. For example, if you pick up the tab for a business lunch, you can scan the receipt, save the digital image and link to that image file from the transaction in Microsoft Money Plus. Many files types can be linked to Microsoft Money Plus transactions because Money does not actually execute the linked file (it opens with its associated software application).

Microsoft Money Plus Investing Tools

Microsoft Money Plus Premium and Home & Business includes some new investment tools:

• Morningstar ratings in MSN Money ETF center
• Participate in stock ratings with Motley Fool CAPS
• Track U.S. world markets, currencies and more MSN Money Market Dashboard
• Daily Top 10 StockScouter stock ratings

Microsoft Money Plus Performance

I had no problems with Microsoft Money Plus performance as long as I had the browser settings (Tools >> Settings >> Browser Settings) set to browse the Internet from within Money Plus. My test computer is relatively new and has 2 GB of RAM, your experience with Microsoft Money Plus performance will depend on what processes are running at the same time, your video card and RAM.

Microsoft Money Plus system requirements call for a minimum of 1 GB of RAM and 32 MB of graphics memory.

Similar to Microsoft Money of past years, large advertisements were liberally sprinkled throughout Money Plus, which may contribute to slow response times for PCs that are only running minimal required resources.

To Buy or Not to Buy Microsoft Money Plus for 2008

Microsoft Money Plus Pros

• Bills Insights
• Image file links
• StockScouter
• Customizable home page
• Multiple currencies

Microsoft Money Cons

• Clicking on some features brings up a web site with financial news rather tools to analyze finances
• Too many advertisements

Anyone using Microsoft Money 2005 and earlier should upgrade to Microsoft Money Plus to take advantage of major changes in the Money interface and new features added since 2005.

As mentioned earlier, Microsoft Money 2006 users have to upgrade to Money Plus depending on when their online features expire sometime in 2007 or 2008 to maintain full functionality.

If you used Microsoft Money 2007, you can hold off on buying Microsoft Money Plus because the new features do not significantly change the core functions of the software, although they do add convenience. That said, if you enjoy new "whistles and bells" in your financial software, then the Microsoft Money Plus 60-day free trial may coax you into upgrading any way, and with the rebate Microsoft is currently offering for Microsoft Money Plus, this personal finance software sells for much less than its primary competition, Quicken.

Microsoft Money Plus Versions and Prices

Microsoft Money Essentials: For those who have not previously used financial software. Does not include new Money Plus features.
Learn more about Microsoft Money Essentials
$19.99 annually

Microsoft Money Plus Deluxe: Fully featured personal finance software. Does not include capital gains and investment-related tax tools.
Learn more about Microsoft Money Plus Deluxe

$49.99 retail Check for $20 rebate from Microsoft

Microsoft Money Plus Premium: All Deluxe version features including capital gains and investment-related tax tools, and free offers for products like H & R Block Deduction Pro, Carbonite Online Backup and more.
Learn more about Microsoft Money Plus Premium

$79.99 retail Check for $30 rebate from Microsoft

Microsoft Money Plus Home & Business: All Premium version features and small business features like invoicing, estimates and Schedule C reporting.
Learn more about Microsoft Money Plus Home & Business

$89.99 retail Check for $30 rebate from Microsoft