Jake Ludington's Digital Lifestyle

If you made a new year's resolution to get smarter about managing your money, or if you just need a simple online checkbook solution, Quicken Online has a ton of great features in a free package. I watched a demo at CES 2009 and was impressed with how they are making it easier to understand the impact of your spending on available cash flow. Quicken Online works just like any other checkbook application. You enter income from your paycheck and other sources. You enter expenses from your debit card or checkbook. If you use Quicken Online consistently, you get a highly accurate picture of how much money you have available to spend between the time you deposit your current paycheck and the time the next paycheck rolls around, which helps prevent overspending or making an impulse purchase that puts you dangerously close to overdrawing.

If you have an iPhone, Quicken will be releasing an iPhone version of the online service that makes it simple to add the purchase you just made right at the point of sale, instantly updating your financial picture. Another handy feature is the ability to get a text message to your cell phone with your balance information, instantly answering the "can I afford it?" question without needing to make a phone call or go to the nearest ATM for a balance lookup. If you're looking for a way to get smarter about finances this year, use free Quicken Online to manage your finances, the price certainly won't hurt your wallet and the access to better data will help prevent financial mistakes.