Best Mobile Personal Finance Tool?

Earlier this year we took a look at best money management web sites, but often, tracking money on-the-go is just as important. What's your favorite tool for managing your money on the go?

Photo by Erik Hersman.

Whether you're using a mobile-optimized web site or an application specific to the iOS, Android, BlackBerry, and so on, we want to hear from you. What mobile money management tool makes it easy to manage your money when you're away from your computer?

Hive Five nominations take place in the comments, where you post your favorite tool for the job. We get hundreds of comments, so to make your nomination clear, please include it at the top of your comment like so: VOTE: Mobile Personal Finance Tool. Please don't include your vote in a reply to another commenter. Instead, make your vote and reply separate comments. If you don't follow this format, we may not count your vote. To prevent tampering with the results, votes from first-time commenters may not be counted. After you've made your nomination, let us know what makes it stand out from the competition.

About the Hive Five: The Hive Five feature series asks readers to answer the most frequently asked question we get: "Which tool is the best?" Once a week we'll put out a call for contenders looking for the best solution to a certain problem, then YOU tell us your favorite tools to get the job done. Every weekend, we'll report back with the top five recommendations and give you a chance to vote on which is best. For an example, check out last week's Five Best Resources for Free Games.

Send an email to Jason Fitzpatrick, the author of this post, at jason@lifehacker.com.

Over the past few years, much of the news has revolved around the economic crisis in the United States. I have opened newspaper after newspaper only to find the words “debt” and “budget” streaming across the headlines more mornings than I would have thought possible. One can conclude one of two things from these frequently reoccurring words. Either journalists are having an incredibly troublesome time finding synonyms for them, or debt and budgeting are two serious issues facing both individual Americans and our overarching political establishment.

I would venture to say most would agree that it is the latter. Debt is a financial reality for countless Americans, as well as the United States government; however, this discussion will not revolve so much around the government but the American people.

Debt could be easily be compared to a common illness that seems innocent enough—until you find yourself unable to get out of bed because it has rendered you helpless. Debt starts out a bit like that. It seems harmless enough until you receive the credit card bill at the end of the month.

Far too many individuals in the United States not only spend recklessly but spend far beyond their means. Just think about it. A grande cappuccino from Starbucks costs somewhere between $3 and $4, possibly more if you prefer soy milk or extra flavors. Now I am well aware that drinks such as these are delicious treats. With every Chai Tea Latte I consume, I feel an instant peace ensue throughout my body. That may be due to my caffeine addiction, but whatever the case may be, it would undoubtedly be more cost-effective to purchase a pound of coffee beans and brew the caffeinated beverages myself.

That is only the beginning. Consider the number of new vehicles you see driving along the highway each morning, some worth well over $50,000. That in itself could fund almost my entire college education.

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Thursday, January 6, 2011

budgeting personal finances

Best Mobile Personal Finance Tool?

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