Quick Take
Choosing a budgeting and finance planning resource comes down to format as much as content. This group includes a step-by-step guide to structured finance cash flows in Excel, the Quicken 2006 Official Guide, a 672-page reference on financial modeling with Excel and VBA, and a CD-ROM of budgeting and finance templates. Prices run from $9.95 to $28.66, so the decision isn't only about cost; it's also about the kind of help you want. If you know whether you need a methodology, a software-specific manual, or ready-to-use templates, you can quickly narrow the field.
Price Comparison
The table below compares the listed prices for the four options.
| Product | Listed Price | Relative Price |
|---|---|---|
| Budgeting and Finance Templates | USD 9.95 | |
| Financial Modeling Using Excel and VBA | USD 9.99 | |
| Modeling Structured Finance Cash | USD 21.94 | |
| Quicken 2006: Official Guide | USD 28.66 |
Decision Matrix
Match the resource to your main goal:
- Want a ready-made budgeting and finance template set to adapt quickly? Budgeting and Finance Templates.
- Want a broad, self-contained reference for building financial models in Excel and VBA? Financial Modeling Using Excel and VBA.
- Need a detailed walkthrough for structured finance cash flows in Excel? Modeling Structured Finance Cash.
- Use Quicken 2006 for your personal finances and want a guide to that software? Quicken 2006: Official Guide.
Product Notes
Modeling Structured Finance Cash (Paperback) by Keith A. Allman
This step-by-step guide builds structured finance cash flow models in Microsoft Excel and belongs to the Wiley Finance series. The trade paperback format keeps it portable, and the listed price is USD 21.94. Its condition is Good, which is a step below the Very Good condition listed for the other three products. Choose it when you need a detailed Excel walkthrough for structured finance cash flows rather than general budgeting help. The limitation is scope: it is centered on one specific modeling process, so readers looking for a broad Excel/VBA reference or for personal budget templates will need to supplement it. If your work matches that focus, the price is reasonable.
Quicken 2006: Official Guide (Paperback) by Maria Langer
This trade paperback is a detailed reference for the Quicken 2006 personal finance program, and the copy is in Very Good condition. The listed price is USD 28.66, the highest in this group. The edition is marked as Revised. Pick it if you use Quicken 2006 and want guidance on menus, commands, and day-to-day budget planning within that software. The flip side is the same specificity: the book is anchored to a single software version. If you're using a newer or different Quicken release, many of the steps will need to be translated, and if you're looking for a tool-agnostic budgeting text, this won't give you that perspective. It suits Quicken 2006 owners who want the official guide walkthrough.
Financial Modeling Using Excel and VBA (Wiley Finance)
This 672-page trade paperback from the Wiley Finance series is a comprehensive guide to financial modeling, spreadsheet programming, and desktop applications. Published in 2004, it covers Excel and VBA broadly, making it a suitable reference for students and professionals who want to build models from the ground up. The copy is in Very Good condition and the listed price is USD 9.99, near the lower end of this group. Choose it when you want a single source for general financial modeling techniques and VBA programming rather than software-specific instructions or ready-made templates. The limitation is its breadth: it doesn't lock onto one budgeting workflow, and readers looking specifically for a step-by-step structured finance walkthrough will need to turn elsewhere.
Budgeting and Finance Templates (CD-ROM)
This is a CD-ROM in its original case, published in 2007 and written in English. It contains budgeting and finance templates rather than a full-length book, and the copy is in Very Good condition. At USD 9.95, it's the lowest listed price in this group. Choose it if you want a starting point for budget layouts and finance templates without reading a long methodology text. The limitation is the opposite of the books: you get the template structure but not the detailed instruction that comes with a 600-plus-page guide. For someone who wants to adapt existing templates quickly, this disc fits; for someone who needs to understand every calculation behind the model, a complementary book will be necessary.
Final Recommendation by Use Case
For a ready-to-use template set, go with the Budgeting and Finance Templates disc. For a broad Excel/VBA reference, choose Financial Modeling Using Excel and VBA. For structured finance modeling, pick Modeling Structured Finance Cash. For Quicken 2006 owners, the Quicken 2006: Official Guide is the match.
