

#Clean up your finances free#
There are other free Web sites that can help you get a grip on your finances in other ways. (The site obviously can't account for cash expenditures but it can track debit card spending.) ITunes purchases or reduce the money you spend atĪnd you use your credit card to pay for it, put in a monthly amount under that card of say, $20, and when you hit that limit, the site sends you an e-mail alert.

The Web site lets you calculate your budget according to your short-, mid-, and long-term goals and set caps on discretionary spending.įor instance, if you want to dial back on your Free sites like can take the hassle out of monitoring your budget.

Instead, set limits on what you plan to spend on discretionary items. "Taking a critical look at what you are spending, should serve as a wake-up call to rethink your monthly spending habits." Of course, once you've redefined your budget, it's unrealistic to think you're going to go cold turkey. And I haven't found anyone who hasn't been surprised about how much they're spending on things like clothing, coffee or dining out," says Allman. "I recommend that my clients track all their spending for one month. Next, try to change just one thing about your spending. Once you've identified your goals, it will help you hone in on a specific plan, she says. For instance, are you hoping to start your own company in five years? Do you want to retire by the time you're 60? And so on. The first step, Allman counsels, is to figure out your financial goals. And you'll set yourself up for failure if you try to do too much at once." But that's because a lot of us take an all-or-nothing approach, says Kimberly Allman, a Brooklyn, N.Y., financial advisor. A great idea, but where would the average Jane even begin? The mere thought of trying to overhaul your personal finances can leave even the best-intentioned consumers frozen in place.
