As a travel editor and points buff, I must admit that I probably have 10 to many credit cards! I am always opening and closing accounts and trying to maximize my return on investment, meaning points! Every card I have in my wallet serves a purpose. Although I only actually use two or three cards normally, there is always a card with an awesome sign up bonus that I just can’t turn down! Not to mention, churning cards for more points and free travel just gives me something to do and allows me to waste my time researching something different!
While I was reading about prepaid credit cards, and with so many credit cards and always preaching about fiscal responsibility, my favorite tool to manage each and every card is Mint.com. Mint provides a snapshot of your entire financial profile in one place for free! Everything you want Mint to know can be specialized and if you’re trying to save money, Mint has a stellar budget tool. Furthermore, Mint even categorizes each purchase made, making it possible to easily track how much was spent on food, gas, grocery, utilities, entertainment, clothing, etc each day, week or month. It really doesn’t get easier than this! I’ve been using Mint to track my budget for over a year now and it has honestly helped! Not to mention, it helps me track what credit card companies consider certain purchases, i.e. restaurant vs bar, Department store vs Grocery Store vs Specialty Store; really helping me get the most bang for my buck when it comes to maximizing points!
Mint takes it even a step further and they allow you to not only track your credit card accounts and your bank accounts, but you can add your retirement accounts and your investments. Make sure you are not overspending and track your investment and retirements are all gaining in one place, welcome to Mint.com! All this saves you time and hassle, which gives you more time for your hobbies. Not to mention, with Mint’s email alerts and smartphone application, no matter where you go, Mint goes with you making you more financially responsible!
Check out this promotional video from Mint. Honestly it works!
If you are like me and you’re churning cards, keep track of them all in one place! Stop going to Chase, American Express, Citi, Capitol One, BOA, and every other Bank’s website to check your balance and your transaction history. Do it with one click of a mouse and one password, click to read more! Set up takes only a few minutes and the time saving advantage is well worth it! And again, if you’re churning cards, PLEASE spend within your limits and ALWAYS pay your cards off in full at the end of every month! The points are nice and the free travel is the reason why we all do this, but overspending and going into debt for a “free” vacation is foolish!
