I don’t talk about finances often, but something happened today to make me think the recession is not likely to end this year and no one is recession proof.
Case in point: I have used Microsoft Money since 2000. Prior to 2000, I used Quicken software to manage my finances (which are not that large), but switched to Money because it was cheaper. For the record, I don’t use financial software to track investments or to do online banking. Yep, you got it. I use the program as an electronic checkbook, an expensive electronic checkbook.
Today, when I fired up Money to look at my cash flow (which is always negative), I got a notice from Microsoft saying they were discontinuing MS Money support after January 31, 2011 and wouldn’t allow activation of the program after June 30, 2009. The reason? “Changing needs of the market place….” In other words, they were bleeding money on Money.
Since October 2008, Microsoft has stopped production on at least 13 products to include Encarta, Flight Simulator, SharePoint Designer and OneCare. A partial listing is here.
Bottom line is I’m not panicking, but I will soon be in the market for a new financial program. *deep sigh* MS Money was a good package and I hate to see it be a victim of the greater financial mess we’re in.