1. Delete your cookies: Redeeming Riches suggests that you delete your cookies and avoid saving credit card info on web sites. This way, you will think twice when you have to go through the hassle to put in all of your information in for each purchase.
2. Use the $25 rule: Redeeming Riches points out that many times, we see something else that we want when we are making credit card purchases. Instead of springing for it, have a firm rule that you will not spend more than $25 than originally planned. If you see a $26 accessory, too bad. It violates the rule.
3. Come up with three reasons to buy: Instead of just purchasing something, Redeeming Riches suggests that you list three reasons to buy the item using a credit card. He points out that “I don’t have the cash” doesn’t count. In fact, that should be the overriding reason to avoid buying the item with credit.
4. Take it out of your checking account: This one’s mine. I like to deduct the money I spend on my credit card from my checking ledger. I write a check each month to cover what I spent on my credit card, and taking it out of my checking account lets me keep from spending more than I actually have.

Do you have any tricks to limiting what you spend on credit cards?

Image source: Daylife

Post from: EveryJoe

4 Ways to Limit Your Credit Card Charges

Mint.com Screen Cap

With more than 1.4 million registered users, Mint.com has quickly become an indispensable service for many individuals and families across the nation. In total, the service tracks more than $45 billion in assets and more than $175 billion in revenue.

Aaron Patzer, Mint.com’s CEO, says that their large user base has allowed the company to better understand the population as a whole.

Patzer: “To be approached with funding in this climate is acknowledgment of our progress and potential in helping Americans to save and do more with their money. Now that we have a sampling of about 2% of the nation’s online households, we can see some interesting economic trends, and are establishing ourselves as a source of close to real-time insights into the US economy.”

With Mint.com, it’s easy to download your financial information into the service. Once your account is set up, you can easily track your money in real-time using graphical charts. Mint.com will also help you set a monthly budget and points out ways you can save money.

Overall, Mint.com definitely looks like an online startup success story.

Post from: EveryJoe

Mint.com Receives $14 Million in Funding