There are many websites available to track your expenses. Here are some:
www.mint.com (This can link all of your accounts and help track expenses/investments)
The drawback is that the categories are difficult to cutomize just a few basic categories. I prefer: Personal, Home, Car, Major purchases and Fun. The Fun category is where 10-15% of your money probably goes and includes vacations, dining out, magazine subscriptions, ATM cash (don't even do this anymore), gift giving, etc.
The investment-side will provide an allocation by fund but that is not good enough. I would prefer to see it by asset category (for example, large-company, small-company, international, etc.) so you have to do this separately.
www.FeedThePig.org (sponsored by the AICPA)
You may find this basic information but it is a good starting place for ideas on where to stop spending if you find that you are not saving/investing enough and wonder how you can possibly meet retirement and other saving goals.
MY RULES:
Keep it simple.
5 categories or so.
Buy with cash.
Don't have it? There are two ways to purchase everything: borrow the money first or save first and then buy it. I prefer saving first for everything including cars (yes, forget leases and auto loans). The only exception are items that will, long-term, go up in value (education for yourself and your family and a home and possibly an investment that is assured).
An Introduction
Hi. Welcome to BourGroup and my blog. Phil
Phil Bour is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER(tm) professional since 2004, a Magna Cum Laude college graduate and an accounting professional for over 35+ years. I love numbers, statistics and economic history.
I am also an Enrolled Agent (EA) to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service and to prepare tax returns.
"Phil"osophy: I believe that you can manage your money on your own (not necessarily through individual stock selection but through mutual funds, ETF's and other solutions) once you receive some one-time, professional guidance. Why pay annual fees when there may be little added value? For additional information, first read the "An Introduction" label at the left. Then move on to others.
Phil Bour is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER(tm) professional since 2004, a Magna Cum Laude college graduate and an accounting professional for over 35+ years. I love numbers, statistics and economic history.
I am also an Enrolled Agent (EA) to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service and to prepare tax returns.
"Phil"osophy: I believe that you can manage your money on your own (not necessarily through individual stock selection but through mutual funds, ETF's and other solutions) once you receive some one-time, professional guidance. Why pay annual fees when there may be little added value? For additional information, first read the "An Introduction" label at the left. Then move on to others.