If you possess the discipline to track the details of your cash flow, Quicken 2001 is still the way to go. But if you just want to know how much money you've got in the bank or owe on plastic, the Web can tell you. Even if you have Quicken 2001, it's worthwhile to connect your accounts to a personal-finance portal for the convenience of being able to check them from anywhere you have access to the Web. That may be why most people stick with stamps and envelopes. And Quicken 2001 doesn't give you the option of having your bills presented to you electronically on the Web, rather than sent by mail.
Some banks let their customers pay bills through the institution's Web site.
But if you want the most features possible, consider a dedicated online bill-paying service. Especially if you're out of town frequently, such a service might be worthwhile just for the ability to review all your bills from one spot on the Web. Some merchants, particularly utilities and financial institutions, can already bill you completely electronically. For others, you can have the paper bill redirected to a service that will scan it for you to see, approve, and pay on the Web. With Paytrust, you can also get your bills archived on a CD-ROM at the end of the year.