I've been slowly emerging from my funk this winter and one of the things that I now feel like I can cope with is our finances. DH had finally given up on trying to keep track of things when I would not enter my purchases in our old Quicken program. So when I got motivated to start keeping track again, we discovered that our program is too old, it wasn't supported/wouldn't download transactions anymore.

So, we bought the spanking new Quicken 2008 Premier [1] and I've been setting up accounts, entering and downloading txs, reconciling, and stuff since Sunday.

DH, after some initial resistance/resentment ("why NOW, after I'd given up on you"), helped me last night, and we now know excactly how much money we have in each account, to the penny, a first for me in three years.

We also have the home loan and other financial data set up, for the first time, and I feel so together and with it, it's somewhat disorienting.

DH spent some time last night setting up more accounts for our other investing, property, and debt records, for which I am very thankful. Setting up investment accounts--it don't come easy for me.

Ever feel like you just woke up from a three year nap?

I'm chalking it up to the homeopathic care I've recieved lately. God bless Dr. Ananda. [2] Having a clear head and mental and emotional energy and resilience--I'd forgotten what that was like.

For the first time in a long time I'm feeling empowered and powerful. Again, a bit disorienting!

Not all the time, mind you, I spent a good portion of yesterday trying to figure out why one account was off. That's one afternoon of my life I want back. Didn't figure it out until I finally convinced DH to let me reconcile (he was trying to troubleshoot in a very Martian manner), we found a missing tx, and voila! Perfecto. Hair pulling, teeth grinding episodes aside, I'm looking forward to keeping track of our finances in a responsible fashion this year!

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