7.

So, we're in a recession.

Well, maybe not technically, but it's a comin. I have quite a few friends that have money spending problems (oh my gosh, no, I'm not referring to myself in any way....) and really like mint.com.

It's a pretty awesome free service that asks takes all your bank accounts and figures out exactly what you are spending money on. It makes GRAPHS. It is very hard to argue with numbers and it has really made me think of how much money I spend on food outside of the grocery store. It's my biggest vice. I really like it when other people cook for me. I hate cooking.

I was a bit afraid of it at first, but they don't take your name, address or phone number, and there is no way to make a transaction from the site. I was pretty convinced that it's safe. And the best part: It will tell you when your bank is charging you for fees that don't make sense. I have found that when you argue with your bank about random fees, they are happy to make them disappear. Give it a try!