I love researching and finding tools and resources that add value to my life. That means, for me at least they, they make life easier, more efficient, add value to some area, or just plain old more enjoyable.

So my first post in the “Things I Use” section is about Quicken Online. While not a super new tool it is one that is often overlooked.  I am always on the lookout for good financial software that makes budgeting and tracking of finances easy.  Finding “easy” in personal finance is tough. As smart and intuitive they say software is suppose to be it really isn’t.  In the US they have a great online tool in Mint.com.  However as many US tools go, this doesn’t work for us Canadians.  However Quicken Online does work.

Here are some quick highlights on why I use it:        Oh it’s also FREE!

#1 Canadians can use it. (just put in a fake ZIP code when signing up. I used “12345″

#2 It integrates extremely easy.

#3 It’s online. I know this makes some nervous. I am completely comfortable and at ease with their security measures and love that I can access this wherever I go.

#4 They even have an iphone app to track things via your mobile phone.

#5 It is very intuitive. Personally, behind being compatible for Canadians, this is the biggest reason I like this service.

#6 Simply tracks trends so that you can very easily see where you are spending, or over spending as is often the case.

#7 Quicken has done a great job at making the whole experience easy with very minimal setup. (To open an account takes approx. 5 minutes. To initially go through your downloaded transactions may take an hour. After that it more or less runs on automatic as it learns very quickly where you spend your money)

Tracking your finances is, in my opinion, very important. Not only does it help identify where we overspend, but on a deeper life issue it can very quickly identify priorities and values we hold. These of course can be great and not so great. Since I’m all about personal growth I think you will find this tool helpful in more was than one.

If you use other tools, please share. The more resources people can have on this the better.

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