Quicken 2000 Has software ever changed your life? No? Just wait until you try this.

Put this at the top of your January to-do list: Spend money tosave time and money. Sound screwy? Not when you put out about $50to buy money-management software. Install Quicken Deluxe 2000 orMicrosoft Money 2000, and, either way, come December you'llsend me a thank-you note. Why?

Quicken changed my life-it honestly did, and it's a rarechunk of software about which such strong stuff can be said. Foryears I hadn't a clue what my account balances were, and neverwas my checkbook balanced. Oh, often I'd come close-within $50was good enough by my loose standards-but that was only after apainful few hours once a month when the statement rolled in.

No more. Since I started keeping my checkbook in Quicken, voila,it's balanced. I glance at the printed bank statement, itmatches my Quicken records, and that's that for the month. Andthis is true even though my accounts now are vastly more complex-abrick-and-mortar bank for ATM access, an online bank for freeelectronic bill-paying and a couple of money-market accounts.