I have MS Money as my checkbook/banking program and use it religiously. I have several "accounts" that are my way of putting money back. I have a "Travel Fund", "Savings", "Taxes", and a couple others. I have MS Money set up to automatically withdraw a set amount from my main checking account and transfer it to these, and other, accounts. Some are done weekly, some monthly.
The money never really moves from my main checking account since the "transfers" are all in the software and not actually done. But I don't have to discipline myself to manually move the money, and that lessens the fear that there will something I want to buy that will cause me to neglect paying myself that week/month.
Likewise all credit card purchases are entered and the money "transferred" to that particular credit card account. When the credit card bill comes in the money has already been set aside so the bill is easy to pay every month. I've not paid a penny in credit card interest in over 10 years and routinely charge over $15,000-$20,000 a year.
I've determined I'm more likely to save money if that money is saved before expenses, rather than trying to save out of what's left over after expenses.
