Add a Quicken Classic Category List in left Column

Question

I'd like to be able to add new category lists to the left column of Category list to better manage finances. I have an elderly aunt whose finances I have to manage and would like to add a left column group category like "Aunt Income", "Aunit Expenses", etc. so I don't have so many categories to search through.

UKR · Answer

The function to create Custom Category Groups already exists.

For example, create a new category, e.g., Aunt Soc Sec, and select the Group field.

Click the down arrow button, then select "New" and create the Aunt Income group. Repeat for Aunt Expenses.

Select the new Group name and finish creating the new category.

You can change existing categories' Group in the same way, by changing the Group name field.

The new group name will show in the Category List, but in my testing, I could not make it show in the left column of the Category List. Don't know why …

The new Group Name shows in Planning / Budgets / Manage Budget Categories and, once one or more of these categories have been added to the budget, will also show in Budget Reports.

But I concur with @mshiggins Suggestion to use a separate Quicken data file for your aunt's accounts and transactions, to keep them totally separate from yours.

[Edited-Screenshot]

mshiggins · Answer

@rpixley if your elderly aunt is still filing a separate tax return, you may want to consider creating a separate Quicken file for your aunt’s finances. You can start a new file using the File menu in Quicken.

In the past, I tracked finances for my nieces and nephews UGMA accounts in their own separate files and now track finances for an elderly relative in their own separate file. It’s much easier to produce reports and track tax implications using a file specific to the person.

It’s easy to switch between files, just click the File menu and select the file you want to switch to from the recent files list at the bottom of the File menu.

Sceptic · Answer

@rpixley have you tried using Tags?  You can add a Tag column to your account register, and then positition that column to where you wish.  Then create tags "Aunt Income", Aunt Expenses", or anything you wish.  If you are in an account register that doesn't have a Tag column showing, you can always work with tabs in the Category column.  The syntax is Category/Tag.