BP3_2010033_Web2.0Tools

(manageME7.com, 2010)

I do not teach and have little influence at my office to incorporate new technology (in spite of working in the I.T. department! My company is technology averse so it is very frustrating). Therefore, I decided to look into Web 2.0 tools that can help me better manage my life since I am very busy working full time and going to school full time. I need all the help I can get!

I’ve been interested in getting a handle on my finances. So, I checked out a web 2.0 tool called BillShrink. BillShrink is a free, web-based service that provides consumers with personalized recommendations for everyday services, such as cell phone plans and credit cards. Recommendations are computed in real-time by matching a user’s indicated usage profile against millions of different options in any market to enable option comparisons and well-informed decisions to maximize savings. (billshrink.com, 2010) I’ve been griping quite a bit about my mobile phone bill lately. So I decided to see if I could do better. The application is extremely easy to use and just takes less than 5 minutes to get to the results. It’s as simple as filling out a questionnaire. Turns out I’m a savvy shopper and already had the best-rate scenario.

Then I decided to see about an application that can help me analyze my overall monthly expenses to see where I might squeeze out more savings. I found a hosted application called manageME7 (manageme7.com). This tool is free and offers features such as, payment reminders, saving for future goals, debt pay-down strategies, a financial forum, and full security. For travelers or those who may split their time between two (or more) countries, currency conversion is inherent. Subscribers can upgrade their account to a paid subscription, which entitles them to increased analytics and unlimited access. The drawback is that in addition to managing my on-line checking account, I must manually input all of my financial information into another application. This wouldn’t be so bad if I actually had time to do this. But time is the problem. I think the best solution would be if my bank had a similar tool that is integrated with my checking and seamlessly transfers my data into an analytical tool. I think before I take the time to set this up, I will check to ensure that an easier option isn’t available from my bank.

For those who would like to share my bookmarks, my My Delicious user name is: lauranwv.