Comments on: I Decided to Try Out Mint.com http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/ Our Journey to a Debt-Free Life Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:50:32 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Teresa http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/comment-page-1/#comment-430488 Teresa Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:03:11 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/#comment-430488 I have been using Mint since it was in beta and, while it has had its little hiccups, it just keeps getting better. Like you, from day one I appreciated its ability to aggregate my accounts (well, most of them...there are two they can't link up to yet). It was so valuable to me to be able to easily see where everything was going, regardless of account, that I almost fearlessly signed up. Recently when I logged in I discovered a new budgeting feature. Between that and the spending categories and being able to drill down through them I feel much more aware and in control. I'm no longer kidding myself about how much money I have and will require to get through the month. And I AM paying down debt. If I were able to log upcoming transactions I would totally dump Quicken. I had the '04 edition and faced the sunset dilemma and at the time had no alternative. Thank you for sharing your experience, not just with Mint but with getting out of debt in general. I think you make a lot of people smarter about money and I _know_ you bring me encouragement. I have been using Mint since it was in beta and, while it has had its little hiccups, it just keeps getting better. Like you, from day one I appreciated its ability to aggregate my accounts (well, most of them…there are two they can’t link up to yet).

It was so valuable to me to be able to easily see where everything was going, regardless of account, that I almost fearlessly signed up. Recently when I logged in I discovered a new budgeting feature. Between that and the spending categories and being able to drill down through them I feel much more aware and in control. I’m no longer kidding myself about how much money I have and will require to get through the month. And I AM paying down debt.

If I were able to log upcoming transactions I would totally dump Quicken. I had the ‘04 edition and faced the sunset dilemma and at the time had no alternative.

Thank you for sharing your experience, not just with Mint but with getting out of debt in general. I think you make a lot of people smarter about money and I _know_ you bring me encouragement.

]]> By: Dave http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/comment-page-1/#comment-430225 Dave Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:55:07 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/#comment-430225 I also just discovered Mint.com, when I read this article from PC Magazine on free software worth $5,183.00: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2260070,00.asp. I had been using Quicken, but like you, I have the 2005 edition, which will no longer be able to download, & I didn't want to pay for the '08 edition. I noticed with Mint, though, that I cannot enter pending or future transactions, such as a check I've written that hasn't cleared yet, so I can't keep an accurate balance of my checking. Do you know of any other free programs like Quicken or Mint where I can enter transactions that have not yet hit my bank? I also just discovered Mint.com, when I read this article from PC Magazine on free software worth $5,183.00:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2260070,00.asp.
I had been using Quicken, but like you, I have the 2005 edition, which will no longer be able to download, & I didn’t want to pay for the ‘08 edition. I noticed with Mint, though, that I cannot enter pending or future transactions, such as a check I’ve written that hasn’t cleared yet, so I can’t keep an accurate balance of my checking. Do you know of any other free programs like Quicken or Mint where I can enter transactions that have not yet hit my bank?

]]> By: Tricia http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/comment-page-1/#comment-429832 Tricia Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:47:17 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/#comment-429832 Santosh - thank you so much for your kind words. You brought tears to my eyes. I am so very happy for you and the success you are having!! Santosh – thank you so much for your kind words. You brought tears to my eyes. I am so very happy for you and the success you are having!!

]]> By: Atish http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/comment-page-1/#comment-429132 Atish Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:35:36 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/#comment-429132 I'm glad you're a fan of the product! I noticed that you linked to the features page. You might want to also mention that people can give a Mint "test drive" by going here: https://wwws.mint.com/demoUser.event Stay tuned, we have a lot of exciting features coming up... -Atish Mint Engineer I’m glad you’re a fan of the product! I noticed that you linked to the features page. You might want to also mention that people can give a Mint “test drive” by going here: https://wwws.mint.com/demoUser.event

Stay tuned, we have a lot of exciting features coming up…
-Atish
Mint Engineer

]]> By: Santosh Sankpal http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/comment-page-1/#comment-429041 Santosh Sankpal Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:29:09 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/#comment-429041 Tricia, I have been reading your blog including comments and answers to it, for quite some time now... may be a year or 2 now. Just to let you know, I am from India. Internet has brought 2 ends of the world togather. I was in deep trouble with my finances. Once I started reading your blog, I have definately improved. Though not all the products and services you write about are not available in India, I still use your blog for inspiration. I am writing here, after I have closed all my interest paying loans & credit cards. Now I have only loans taken from some of my friends and those are also on the verge of closing. Thanks a lot for all your help. Though unknowingly you may changed lives of several thousand people. May the almighty bring all your dreams to truth. Tricia, I have been reading your blog including comments and answers to it, for quite some time now… may be a year or 2 now.

Just to let you know, I am from India. Internet has brought 2 ends of the world togather.

I was in deep trouble with my finances. Once I started reading your blog, I have definately improved. Though not all the products and services you write about are not available in India, I still use your blog for inspiration.

I am writing here, after I have closed all my interest paying loans & credit cards. Now I have only loans taken from some of my friends and those are also on the verge of closing.

Thanks a lot for all your help. Though unknowingly you may changed lives of several thousand people.

May the almighty bring all your dreams to truth.

]]> By: Frugal Dad http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/comment-page-1/#comment-428981 Frugal Dad Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:23:13 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/#comment-428981 Like you, I was concerned about security. It had not occurred to me to only use Mint for my credit card accounts, until I read your post. I think that's a good way to hedge the security issue and I might give it a shot. Like you, I was concerned about security. It had not occurred to me to only use Mint for my credit card accounts, until I read your post. I think that’s a good way to hedge the security issue and I might give it a shot.

]]> By: Jason Simon http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/comment-page-1/#comment-428451 Jason Simon Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:16:17 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/#comment-428451 I tried Mint and it seems like a good budgeting program. It is amazing how many products are on the market in competition with each other (e.g. Quicken Online, Geezeo, Mint etc...). They all have their own little catch. I tried Mint and it seems like a good budgeting program. It is amazing how many products are on the market in competition with each other (e.g. Quicken Online, Geezeo, Mint etc…). They all have their own little catch.

]]> By: Tricia http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/comment-page-1/#comment-428416 Tricia Sun, 16 Mar 2008 18:14:44 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/#comment-428416 My CCs are set-up in Quicken, but I do not use the download feature within Quicken. I enter everything manually. I probably should try it, but when it comes to downloading things I'm pretty slow at getting around to trying it and since I am running 2005 my version will be sunset shortly by Intuit. I'm not ready to pay to upgrade Quicken yet. I do have a 2008 version for Windows, but my laptop (that I do blogging on and bill paying on) is an older Mac. I probably will start downloading credit card charges in Quicken at some point when I finally migrate everything to my Windows computer - but for now Mint.com will help. Great point! My CCs are set-up in Quicken, but I do not use the download feature within Quicken. I enter everything manually. I probably should try it, but when it comes to downloading things I’m pretty slow at getting around to trying it and since I am running 2005 my version will be sunset shortly by Intuit.

I’m not ready to pay to upgrade Quicken yet. I do have a 2008 version for Windows, but my laptop (that I do blogging on and bill paying on) is an older Mac.

I probably will start downloading credit card charges in Quicken at some point when I finally migrate everything to my Windows computer – but for now Mint.com will help.

Great point!

]]> By: Scott http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/comment-page-1/#comment-428401 Scott Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:15:35 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/#comment-428401 Tricia, I'm a Quicken user myself, actually Quicken Home & Business, and have been for over a decade. I was just curious why you haven't set up your Credit Cards accounts in Quicken? I simply hit 'update' in quicken and it downloads all transactions, balances, etc into Quicken and I'm done. Thanks. Tricia,

I’m a Quicken user myself, actually Quicken Home & Business, and have been for over a decade.

I was just curious why you haven’t set up your Credit Cards accounts in Quicken? I simply hit ‘update’ in quicken and it downloads all transactions, balances, etc into Quicken and I’m done.

Thanks.

]]> By: Tricia http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/comment-page-1/#comment-428392 Tricia Sun, 16 Mar 2008 15:38:59 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/#comment-428392 Joy - I'm emailing you. I also changed your email address above to make it less attractive to the spammers :) Joy – I’m emailing you. I also changed your email address above to make it less attractive to the spammers :)

]]> By: Joy Smith http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/comment-page-1/#comment-428389 Joy Smith Sun, 16 Mar 2008 15:21:14 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/#comment-428389 Mint.com sounds interesting. I bookmarked it to check it out. I have a question I am hoping you will be able to email me an answer about. :) I would like to know if getting a domain name is worth it and how you got started doing so. I've been thinking about getting a domain name for my blog, but I don't want to spend a lot and I don't want to have to get a host site due to outrageous costs. If I remember correctly, with blogger you don't need a host site, but I could be wrong. If any other readers have suggested that would be great as well. You can email me at: silent_beautie [at]yahoo [dot] com. Thank You Mint.com sounds interesting. I bookmarked it to check it out. I have a question I am hoping you will be able to email me an answer about. :) I would like to know if getting a domain name is worth it and how you got started doing so. I’ve been thinking about getting a domain name for my blog, but I don’t want to spend a lot and I don’t want to have to get a host site due to outrageous costs. If I remember correctly, with blogger you don’t need a host site, but I could be wrong.

If any other readers have suggested that would be great as well. You can email me at: silent_beautie [at]yahoo [dot] com.

Thank You

]]> By: joe http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/comment-page-1/#comment-428306 joe Sun, 16 Mar 2008 03:17:19 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/#comment-428306 hey thanks for this post.. i haven't heard of mint.com but im gonna give it a try hey thanks for this post.. i haven’t heard of mint.com but im gonna give it a try

]]> By: Da Big D http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/comment-page-1/#comment-428297 Da Big D Sun, 16 Mar 2008 02:12:08 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/#comment-428297 Technically Mint.com does not keep your information or access to accounts, it only displays it. Mint does not "see" your account information or balance etc... Its actully in their terms of service agreements. So don't worry you will be ok if you put your bank info. You are actually more at risk if someone steal your computer physically or if it hacked into from someone on the internet (not that people are looking to hack into your computer they aren't). Sure certain virus' or trojans can take over your computre, but if you surf safe and have AntiVirus on it your safe. Technically Mint.com does not keep your information or access to accounts, it only displays it. Mint does not “see” your account information or balance etc… Its actully in their terms of service agreements. So don’t worry you will be ok if you put your bank info.
You are actually more at risk if someone steal your computer physically or if it hacked into from someone on the internet (not that people are looking to hack into your computer they aren’t). Sure certain virus’ or trojans can take over your computre, but if you surf safe and have AntiVirus on it your safe.

]]> By: Tricia http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/comment-page-1/#comment-428224 Tricia Sat, 15 Mar 2008 20:40:49 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/#comment-428224 justine - one credit card has all of our debt and one card is used for everyday purchases and the balance is paid in full multiple times a month (we use it for the protection and the cash back). When our credit card debt is paid off, we will close many of the cards. Until then, the available credit limits are helping our credit score (with the utlization ratio). They also have balance transfer offers every now and then and we might have to use one of them to keep our interest rate low. Right now, we have our debt at 0% but that will be expiring in September. We are keeping them open for options and to help our credit score. But as soon as the debt is paid off I'm having a shreddin' party :) justine – one credit card has all of our debt and one card is used for everyday purchases and the balance is paid in full multiple times a month (we use it for the protection and the cash back).

When our credit card debt is paid off, we will close many of the cards. Until then, the available credit limits are helping our credit score (with the utlization ratio). They also have balance transfer offers every now and then and we might have to use one of them to keep our interest rate low. Right now, we have our debt at 0% but that will be expiring in September.

We are keeping them open for options and to help our credit score. But as soon as the debt is paid off I’m having a shreddin’ party :)

]]> By: Beth http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/comment-page-1/#comment-428181 Beth Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:53:13 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/#comment-428181 I actually, literally, just deleted my Mint.com account. I like using Yodlee much better. I signed up for both at about the same time, about six months ago, to see which I liked betterI am able to access more through Yodlee and I think the interface is much better. I actually had bought Quicken 2008, but have yet to install it because between Yodlee and my online banking access I feel like I have everything that I need. I'll probably donate my Quicken to my son who is trying to learn about his finances while still in college...that way the program doesn't go to waste... I actually, literally, just deleted my Mint.com account. I like using Yodlee much better. I signed up for both at about the same time, about six months ago, to see which I liked betterI am able to access more through Yodlee and I think the interface is much better. I actually had bought Quicken 2008, but have yet to install it because between Yodlee and my online banking access I feel like I have everything that I need. I’ll probably donate my Quicken to my son who is trying to learn about his finances while still in college…that way the program doesn’t go to waste…

]]> By: justine http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/comment-page-1/#comment-428165 justine Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:41:39 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/03/i-decided-to-try-out-mintcom/#comment-428165 Simplifying one's life is good -- so, why do you have 7 credit cards? (I'm making the assumption that you don't carry a balance on all of them, but maybe that's wrong.) Even if you believe in keeping credit cards open for the purpose of "building credit," you certainly don't need more than 1 or 2. Simplifying one’s life is good — so, why do you have 7 credit cards? (I’m making the assumption that you don’t carry a balance on all of them, but maybe that’s wrong.) Even if you believe in keeping credit cards open for the purpose of “building credit,” you certainly don’t need more than 1 or 2.

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