Have you ever tried to create a budget and actually keep track of every single penny you earn and spend (yes, even that $0.99 Lady GaGa download) for more than 3 months? Ever tried to use Excel, Quicken, Microsoft Money or a similar product to download all of your bank statements, credit card expenditures, and mortgage payments? I have and the end result has always been guilt, shame, and at least a few month break before my next attempt at fiscal responsibility. If you can relate or are looking for simple way to manage your finances/budget continue reading.
Enter Mint.com. About a year ago one of my friends told me about a website that would allow me easily track all of our finances in one location. I signed up, dove in, and am so thankful I did. The beauty of Mint is that you can add all of your accounts; your checking account, your savings account, your credit card, your mortgage, your car payment, your 401K, your paypal account (the list goes on) and Mint downloads all of the transactions automatically into one place. Gone are the days of going to each website to download the information you need to track (if you can even remember the password and random security question thrown at you).
Mint allows you to organize transactions into categories and sub-categories with a few simple clicks. It also allows you to set up a budget and will even send you e-mail alerts if you exceed your budget in a given area. The reporting tools are pretty amazing, including pie charts and the ability to drill down into any category and subcategory. Oh, did I mention that Mint is completely FREE? I could say a lot more but at this point you should probably just dive in and see for yourself. Just take 10 minutes to sign up and get started on Mint.com, I think you will love it like I do!
Report back with your thoughts or let me know if you find a better way of tracking your budget.
