First off, I agree with most here about using Excel. I use Excel spreadsheets to track the expenditures in my business. Much simpler than any accounting software, and I can customize it to my needs. Most accounting software, especially the ones aimed at businesses, have a lot of complex features I'll never, ever use (depreciation and amortization for example). No sense going through a complex learning curve to do something simple.
Second, it sounds like you want to start doing a budget so that you can track where your money is going. This is a good thing as it allows you to see everything right in front of you. One of the biggest financial blunders people make are not tracking the small expenditures which add up over time. I can't say how many times I've heard of people who'll buy Starbucks twice and day, and also not leave any shop they go in during their lunch hour without buying something. I'll here stuff like it's only $3 for coffee, or they only spend a few dollars a day in the Hallmark store (incidentally on crap they really don't need but more on that later). Add it up. $8 a day, 5 days a weeks equals $2000 a year. Throw in a few other questionable expenses, like maybe cigarettes or "drinking with guys after work", and these daily expenses start to become serious money.
Third, and this especially applies to you Dave as I've read lots of your posts about how you spend money, you really need to separate
wants from
needs. You've been lucky so far in that you've been able to make money as fast as you spend it, but don't expect that will always be the case. There's an old Chinese proverb which runs something like "don't spend all your prosperity at once". In other words, when you're making good money, spend as if you're not, and put aside the difference. Doing a budget will allow you to examine where your money goes. That being done you can look at each item and see where you can cut expenses. For example, you walk to work. Do you really need a new car? For that matter, do you really need a second car at all? A car is the second largest expense after housing. I'll grant that in most parts of the US you need some form of personal transport (and it doesn't necessarily have to be a car-an electric scooter might work fine). But many families have two cars or more even when just one will do. Examine you lifestyle and what you really use a car for. It might turn out that the times you really need a second car are few and far between, meaning you can just rent one when the need arises. And do you really need a new car? Many good deals on used cars, and if you're handy you can keep a used car running a long, long time.
Bottom line is everyone needs to see where their money goes. Making a lot of money is no guarantee of solvency. Look at Micheal Jackson. He was a millionaire but lived like a billionaire. Too bad I didn't know him personally. I probably could have made enough money off him in one year to retire.
. Throw away those "no fear" bumperstickers, too 
