Have you ever heard of Mint.com? I just joined it and it’s awesome. It’s like a free version of quicken. It links to all of your accounts (credit cards, brokerage/investment accounts, savings/checking) and lets you keep a budget there, track all transactions and even make savings goals to meet. If you go over budget in any section, you’ll get an email. That’s so handy! Plus it gives you a pie chart to show how your money is being spent. A real eye opener!
Opening the joint account with John re-lit a financial fire in me.
I’m a saver (hoarder, miser…whatevs) by nature, and was really into personal finance, budgeting, investing a few years back but then got slack about everything that wasn’t automated. whomp whomp!
Have you read this book? It’s by David Bach, the dude who wrote The Automatic Millionaire (another awesome money book btw) I read this book about 5 years ago and learned so much! It helped me start to save more, budget better, and finally start my retirement savings. Reading it again last night it inspired me almost as much as it did the first time I gave it a go.
I’m going to get serious about managing my money again. (and John’s) There’s a hidden stack of miscellaneous financial papers in our credenza that’s going to be organized this week. And I’m going to forcethreatenblackmail encourage John to make his own mint.com account too.
I’m now in the middle of Women and Money by Suze Orman. (love her! and her weird accent)
I’ve had this book for a few years now and I don’t think I ever cracked it open. It’s a great book in plain as day, easy to understand language for any woman who wants to start to take control of her finances. A lot of the material is redundant after reading the other book, but it’s still an informative read.
John and I agreed to sit down and have a serious money talk. We had a mini chat after I finished reading the David Bach book where he basically said that I will have to handle all the finances “so we can be rich” LMAO! We’re a long (i mean loooooooooooooong) way away from that!
How do you handle the finances in your household? Do you keep everything separate? Does everything get paid from a joint account? Is one person in charge of all the bills? I’d love to hear!
I love Ms. Orman financial advice, very practical and savvy, she's my role model. I also discovered few other great books:
1. How Rich People Think - by Steve Siebold2. Think Like a Winner- by Walter Doyle Staples3. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
About how I run my own finances, I've changed my outlook on money and started saving in different accounts (tax free saving), mutual and the stock market. Reading a lot and micro-managing my shopaholic addiction towards books, art and fashion. Since I'm not married and have no intention of creating co-account with someone I'm not married to, most of my money is managed and budgeted by me....with my family's input.
Crystal Escobar
Friday 5th of November 2010
That book Smart Couples Finish Rich sounds like a great one! I'm going to have to check that one out for sure! Thank you for the recommendation!
Mrs. K
Friday 5th of November 2010
It's complicated in our household. It's joint and it's not. We have a few accounts that are joint but then we also both have separate checking accounts too. My husband handles all the finances(including bills) because he is better at it (investing and all). We both have an astronomical amount of school debt that we hope to consolidate one day. The plan is to be totally joined once we are done with our training. What we are doing now works for us--no friction :)
Dani @ OK, Dani
Thursday 4th of November 2010
Thanks for the input ladies!! You guys are the best!Jc - Suze kicks sense into ppl on her own show too. (and thanks, i kinda feel like i'm finding my blogging voice! eeep!)
Carolyn - yes i've gotten "yelled at" by mint already lol and it's only been a few days hahah
Mrs Green + PunkRock - thanks for all the details. We are going to use our joint account to pay bills (actually to repay the card I use to pay bills so we can get miles!) and keep the savings account untouchable.
last night.
Huda
Sunday 7th of November 2010
I love Ms. Orman financial advice, very practical and savvy, she's my role model. I also discovered few other great books:
1. How Rich People Think - by Steve Siebold2. Think Like a Winner- by Walter Doyle Staples3. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
About how I run my own finances, I've changed my outlook on money and started saving in different accounts (tax free saving), mutual and the stock market. Reading a lot and micro-managing my shopaholic addiction towards books, art and fashion. Since I'm not married and have no intention of creating co-account with someone I'm not married to, most of my money is managed and budgeted by me....with my family's input.
Crystal Escobar
Friday 5th of November 2010
That book Smart Couples Finish Rich sounds like a great one! I'm going to have to check that one out for sure! Thank you for the recommendation!
Mrs. K
Friday 5th of November 2010
It's complicated in our household. It's joint and it's not. We have a few accounts that are joint but then we also both have separate checking accounts too. My husband handles all the finances(including bills) because he is better at it (investing and all). We both have an astronomical amount of school debt that we hope to consolidate one day. The plan is to be totally joined once we are done with our training. What we are doing now works for us--no friction :)
Dani @ OK, Dani
Thursday 4th of November 2010
Thanks for the input ladies!! You guys are the best!Jc - Suze kicks sense into ppl on her own show too. (and thanks, i kinda feel like i'm finding my blogging voice! eeep!)
Carolyn - yes i've gotten "yelled at" by mint already lol and it's only been a few days hahah
Mrs Green + PunkRock - thanks for all the details. We are going to use our joint account to pay bills (actually to repay the card I use to pay bills so we can get miles!) and keep the savings account untouchable.
Punkrock I cant wait to read your blog!
Mrs. Green
Thursday 4th of November 2010
And we do it exactly how PunkRockPrincess did! :)