How to Manage Personal Finances Online

Do you have trouble keeping track of all of your credit cards and bank accounts? Do you want to keep all of your balances at your fingertips? It is easy, here is how to start:

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Your bank and credit card information

1. Enroll in internet banking on all of your financial institution's websites. You can find more information on this at your bank if you are having trouble. Be sure to keep your user names and passwords, you will need those again later.
2. Join a free financial management website, such as Mint.com, Wesabe.com, or Yodlee.com. This is a free, easy process. (I use Mint, but I have heard about good features at each site.)
3. Enter your internet banking information on your new financial management website. You should only need to enter your login and password. Do not enter you account numbers.
4. Check back daily. Your website will update and track your account balances and transactions. Some of the sites will graph your spending habits, remind you to pay your credit cards on time, and warn you if your balances are too low.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to check in often, as these sites will provide valuable analysis of your spending and transactions.
• Do not give out your information until you read the site privacy policy and feel comfortable.