You could use this as an excuse to learn more about Excel such as setting up dashboards with dials showing you your current debt levels. etc. Maybe also put your debts / repayments / interest etc. into an SQL Server database and learn how to link SQL Server to Excel via ODBC. Maybe also a bit of Macro programming for What if Scenario's. Maybe even play with something like SSRS. How about developing Excel User forms and learning some VBA.
Your spreadsheet doesn't have to start off complex but don't shy away from developing it into something to be proud of that you can then use with clients.
If you buy other peoples software specific to your requirement (or even get it free) then you are not learning anything from it that you would be able to capitalise on in your career.
My vote is that you stick with Excel but learn to use it as a developer rather than an end user which is how most people use it. It is by far the most powerful bit of software in the market but its very (very very) underused by those who have access to it.
Just my two penneth. Others may disagree.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Everything seems like playing if you enjoy it . Wasn't it Einstein that said that if you enjoy what you do you never have to work a day in your life.
Personally I love Excel and make a very nice living from it (and SQL in all it's various flavours) as a data/business analyst. Even when I've got my Accountants hat on I've always got Excel open on at least one of my screens.
I wouldn't recomend Excel for bookkeeping or accounts but only because I'm of a mindset of why reinvent the wheel when VT, Sage, Quickbooks and IRIS can already do all of that for you. But for budgeting, forecasting, projections, cost analysis, sales analysis, strategic planning, as is and what if analysis, etc. Accept no substitute.
Thats not detracting from the offerings of the products that do what you want for you but being a bit of a control freak and finding that off the shelf software either never seems to do exactly what I want it to, or does it in a way where it's difficult to adjust criteria for what if scenario's. For me Excel is the perfect sollution.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
. Wasn't it Einstein that said that if you enjoy what you do you never have to work a day in your life.
