Take your Money and RUN....

If you have been telling yourself for forever and ever that you were going to save up money for Quicken, but have yet to get serious and manage your debts, investments, and every day spending with this high ticket and somewhat cumbersome (yes, I've used it in the past) item - it's finally an excuse you can take out of the excuse pile; "reasons I HAD (moving FORWARD, right?) for why I hadn't made any headway with getting that 'debt and money situation' squared away. "

The rise of web 2.0 web sites has drastically implemented the ability of consumers to interact with each other, and this interaction has gradually increased and fine-tuned communication between companies and consumer groups, and those who benefit from the resulting improvements in products like Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn.

Enter the financial gurus of web 2.0 - companies like Wesabe.com, Mint.com, and Yodlee.com.



This type of networking sings a much different tune then its slightly different predecessors listed above. This tune is a tune that surely has investors with a competitive edge VERY excited... investors like Verizon, AT&T, etc. At least with Wesabe, (I am unsure how the other sites turn a profit) there is room for hope after the $80 hit you took for too much time gabbing on your cell, because these guys will diagnose the problem, and suggest (automatically, non-non-invasively, and seemlessly) a more cost-effective alternative that may either be a different product or service, or perhaps a totally different cell phone provider. When users utilize this advice and purchase, said company gets the profits, and Wesabe gets a percentage, thereby providing its excellent financial management site ABSOLUTELY FREE, meanwhile helping you get your coin together. To add some fuel to the fire, don't just take my word for it, check out these other reviews as well.

Wesabe also provides a Firefox add-on that allows you to view your spending and investing at the click of a button, right to the left of your browser. It is also vital when it comes to categorizing your finances based on what you clarify, or "tag" as "food, entertainment, sewer bill....etc." The add on allows for quick and easy access to information, which it uploads as it tracks your spending. Choosing the "Tag Cloud" option also shows your biggest areas pf spending to the right, and itemizes them if you click a tag. In other words, clicking "entertainment" will take you to a page with nothing but your entertainment expenses, with charts and graphs available to neatly and succinctly show you how much was spent for movies, and how much was for drinks at the bar.

With a "goals" section, that allows you to set your and chart financial targets, and "group" sections, where like-minded people collaborate towards similar tasks (Save up $1000, Pay Off credit Cards), Wesabe covers more bases than Mint seems to offer.

Check this video out for a closer look:

Happy saving!



PS-

Check out the Wesabe blog to keep informed as these guys make Wesabe even better!