Hop in your car for a long drive and you probably start glancing at your speed, gas, miles and temperature gauges. Yet during that other long “drive” known as life, most of us turn a blind eye to our financial gauges—either out of fear or because we aren’t sure what to do about what we see.

When installed on your computer, financial software functions like a money dashboard and early-warning system. Most programs track and display your budget, spending, banking, bills, savings, investments, retirement plans and debt levels—all in one convenient place.

The more often you look at these numbers, the richer you’re likely to become. Studies show that people who get into the habit of monitoring their money wind up wealthier than those who don’t.

Generally, financial software divides into two broad categories—money-management and tax-preparation programs.

Money-management software offers:

• Budgeting — You set spending limits and manage your cash flow.

• Banking — Pay bills electronically on time, print checks and reconcile account balances.

• Planning — Monitor and pay down debt, estimate major life expenses, forecast retirement needs, and run calculations.

• Investing — Get stock quotes and track your portfolios.

• Reports — Print out summarizations and charts of your finances for review.

• Taxes — Export financial data into tax-preparation software.

Tax-prep software offers:

• Planning — Get tax advice on retirement, estate plans, investing and small business.

• Importing — Allows financial data to be transferred in from other software programs.

• Forms — Access federal and state forms.

• Reference — Latest IRS publications inform you of rules and regulations.

• Deductions — Information on applicable itemized deductions.

• Error checks — Reviews returns for miscalculations.

• Online filing — Confirmation that e-filed tax returns have been received as well as status updates.