Maranda’s Picks- Budgeting Tools from Mint

February 9, 2012

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We have survived the first month of 2012, and well on our way to tackling the second! By now, you can probably tell if you will achieve your resolutions, or maybe if you need a little more help or guidance. It’s not too late to give them another try if you feel you have already failed! I encourage you to take a moment and think of your goal for this year and why it is important for you to reach it. Whether you want to be healthier, more organized or get your finances in order the important thing is not to give up!

Many of my friends have stated they want to budget their money better in 2012. I know the challenge when it comes to budgeting money. I can understand the confusion that may come with trying to set a budget, knowing where to start, what areas are most important to save for. Once you get the hang of it, you will love the freedom of knowing how much money you have to spend, where to spend it and not feel guilty. You will have a plan to follow!

So what is the best way to get started?

There are products and sites available to help you get a budget started and under control. I recommend Mint.com. This is a free site that allows you to set a budget, track your finances, and work towards meeting a financial goal! I love how easy Mint is to use, and most important how its security protects my information. The moment you enter your bank info, Mint begins to categorize your spending! You can immediately see how much you spend dining out, on groceries, clothing and entertainment! This helps you take the first step in cutting spending and setting a realistic budget!

Alerts & Mint Mobile

At times, I can be very forgetful, and this can be hazardous to my budget if I were to forget to pay a bill on time. I would face late fees and possibly other penalties. Mint.com has a wonderful alert feature that will let me know when a bill is due. I can set it up to email me or send a text right to my phone! Other alerts that they offer for free are Low Balance Alert, Over Budget Alert, Fee Alert (if your bank or credit card has charged you a fee), even an alert to tell you if your credit card spending is affecting your credit score!

I’m always out and about, and find their free mobile app especially helpful. I can easily see my budget, track spending and see all my financial information in one place! If you are a graph and chart kind of person, they have those too!

Mint.com is not just for checking accounts; you can track savings, retirement, investment, and credit card accounts as well! They have tons of tutorials to help you get started. So take a moment and give them a try! No matter your resolution, I hope the best of luck to you.