Book excerpt: Microsoft Money 2003 makes managing your personal finances very easy. Well, not "very easy," but pretty darned closed to it. With Money 2003, you don't need a bookkeeper to track your finances. You don't need an accountant or financial counselor, either. And you don't need to be a computer expert. All you need is to know how to use Money 2003. And that's the tricky part. Like most personal finance programs, Money 2003 is complicated – you may even argue that it's more complicated to use than it should be. After all, all you really want to do is keep track of your money, right? You're not performing brain surgery on your checkbook. Well, that's where Microsoft Money 2003 For Dummies steps in to help. Written in typical Dummies style – that is, in plain English and with a healthy helping of humor – this book can help users of both the standard and deluxe editions of Money 2003 get to the heart of the program without wasting time. Don't expect to find out how Money 2003 works, though; instead, expect to find out how you can manage your finances with Money 2003. Here's just a sampling of the topics you'll find covered in Microsoft Money 2003 For Dummies: Setting up checking, savings, and credit card accounts Recording your financial activity Categorizing your spending and income sources Balancing your account through reconciling transactions Writing and printing checks Paying bills online and scheduling bill payment Planning your finances for the years ahead Preparing for tax time and managing your investments Top Ten lists on achieving financial good health, handling your finances if you're self-employed, and moving from Quicken to Money 2003 So whether you're "in the money" or just plain "out of money," whether you're a financial whiz or you're just learning the financial ropes, Microsoft Money 2003 For Dummies can help you make the most of your money quickly and easily!