Mint.com Has Changed My Life...

Hi. My name is Bethany O'Neil. I have a problem with money. Specifically, I spend it. Sure, I spend it on bills, mortgages and car payments. But really, I live to spend it on lovely things, things that make me happy and fuzzy on my insides. Things like jeans and shoes and Starbucks...oh Starbucks. There are few things in life that I love more than Starbucks. If Starbucks were a person, I would be arrested for stalking it. If there were a 12-Step program for lovers of Starbucks, I would be the President. And the Vice-President too. Perhaps even the Sergeant-At-Arms. You see...my obsession with Starbucks pervades my daily life. I've spent at least 4 minutes just blogging about it. Perhaps this merits it's own blog, at some point in the future.

But anyway. On to the point. So I spend money. Approximately 30% of the time, I remember to write down financial transactions in my check register. Well, lets be honest. 30% is a generous estimate. Recently, however, with the economic trouble we've all been noticing lately, I began to contemplate my spending habits. You can tell I'm getting to be a grown-up because I started thinking that maybe we should start being more fiscally responsible. One day, whilst reading my Shape Magazine, I read a little blurb about a website called www.Mint.com. In that moment, my financial life changed. I went straight home and visited this online miracle site. Within minutes...blammy. All of my financial transactions in one central location, downloaded daily and compiled into the most pleasing pie charts and graphs one could ever imagine. Next, one is eased into the idea of a budget. Before you know it, your finances are in perfect order. But that isn't even the magical part.

The really magical part is that somehow, your brain just switches into this new mode called Financial Responsibility. For instance, this morning, I was really craving a visit with my most cherished, loyal and encouraging friend, Starbucks. As I drove in the 24 degree heat, I could almost feel the hot, slightly sweet liquid love sliding down my throat, supplying me with the courage to face my day. But then, Mint.com overtook my free will and wrestled me into submission. I envisioned what my pie chart would look like if I gave in. That little tiny pink sliver entitled "Coffee" would get just a tiny bit bigger, and my favorite red column, the red one entitled "Net Worth" would get just a fraction smaller. So I happily drove to my office, poured myself a cup of the drip coffee that someone had so generously prepared and loved every drop of it. I loved it especially because I knew that my pie chart was congratulating me, cheering me on from wherever it resides in Cyberville.