Monday, March 21, 2011

Less Stressed Tool: Pear Budget

Okay, I have been so excited to share this with you since I discovered it last week! This tool is going to make a BIG stressor WAY less stressful :)

I am reading Organized Simplicity, by SimpleMom (more on that later!). She is a big fan of this husband-wife team's online budgeting system.

Pear Budget is a super simple way to be a good little Dave Ramsey follower/debt free live-r/good steward of your financial resources. Using a very easy to use format, PB sets you up a monthly budget and helps keep track of your spending in less time and with less effort...thus, with less stress! :)

I have been keeping a budget for my entire marriage, which includes tracking every penny we use. Our beginning spreadsheets were in a word, complicated. They involved way more than they should have, for something that need to keep on top of in order to take good care of money. We have simplified through the years, but this takes the cake.
 

My favorite PB highlights:

*You enter your budget ONCE..meaning, that I made my monthly budget and they have it set up for me from here on out. I love that I can fast forward two months and put that I will need a haircut in May so to budget for that.  Love it.

* The whole thing is extremely simple - simple fields, simple key strokes, easy to find everything and easy to figure out as a newbie. The have you put in just enough info to keep your pennies behaving, but not too much where you spend way to much time entering info.

* Not only does create your budget for monthly stuff, it also takes irregular bills (like quarterly payments) and breaks it up for you. It helps you budget your big expenses better. I really love this because it something we do anyway with our car insurance and stuff. I love that PB does it for me! 

* They have an iphone app! ...I pulled this up this morning because that is something that will help me, both to keep track of what I can spend while I am out and about and also to put in what I am spending when I spend it. The app lets you hop on your budget, check out how much is in say, the "Dining Out" budget and then track the receipt, all from  your iphone.  One of my favorite things about that ..hubby and I can be on the same page!  He can know what we have, and knows if we have the bucks to buy me flowers ;)

* Dont have an iphone? Its okay ..they have something else that is great too ..its called a "Go Card" ..a 3x5 version of your budget that you can print and take with you. Love it.

* Aside from your email, it doesnt use any personal info - no bank info, no account numbers, etc. I like that.

* Their website is pretty .. :)

* The website and app is well worth the $5/month... And since they give you a free 30-day trial so you can play, learn and become dependent :)   ... this one is a no-brainer for me!  In order to try it, you dont have to enter any personal info, aside from your email address. No credit card numbers or anything.


BUT .... my #1 favorite thing about them to date ...drumroll please ...

They have offered LPLS readers a giveaway of a free 6-month subscription!

Wahoo!..you will WANT this!

In order to enter,  please go check out Pear Budget! ..set up a super easy budget (it literally took me less than 5 minutes) ..and then come tell me what you think!

If you "like" them on Facebook ...you get another entry. I got on there this morning and learned even more great tips about new fav budgeting tool! 

If you "like" LPLS on Facebook ..you get another entry...really, we want you lots of chances to get this great tool!

We will choose a winner NEXT Monday! ..ready, set, GO!

{in effort to manage my resources well...this WORKS FOR ME!}

23 comments:

  1. I am a little bit into my trial run with Pear Budget and I love it! I'd love, love, love to win 6 months free! Thanks!
    ~Rose

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  2. I liked Pear Budget on Facebook :)
    ~Rose

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  3. I started a free trial with them a couple of weeks ago based on recommendations from Simple Mom. I am loving it so far, and will definitely be paying for it after my trial is up. If I don't win 6 free months, that is. ;)

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  4. I just found your blog thanks to the Pear Budget blog! So, Hi! :) And, I only have 9 days left of my trial of PB and absolutely love it! I would love to get 6 months free! Woot! Thanks!

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  5. I just went and liked Pear Budget on Facebook. Thanks for this chance to enter.

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  6. I started testing Pear Budget in March and already feel like I am a better steward. Thanks for this chance to enter.

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  7. Whew, had a little trouble finding you both on Facebook but I did it! Nice to know I've entered for every opportunity to win this great give-away. Thanks!

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  8. Wow, so easy and fast to set up. I've been meaning to set up a budget for a long time but the task seemed so daunting and i don't have excel. This is great!

    alison (dot) minor (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  9. I'm now a fan of Pear Budget on FB

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  10. I am now a fan of Pear Budget and LPLS! Hope I win the free 6 months. I love it.

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  11. Ok, I did it! I just signed up with Pear Budget! This looks like something I can do! I have entered all of my information into the system and am ready to go! My husband is so impressed with me taking care of business for us! I would love to win 6 months worth of Pear Budget for free!

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  12. I am now a fan of Pear Budget on facebook too!

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  13. I also "liked" LPLS on facebook too!! So glad I found your website! It's great!

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  14. i just signed up for the trial... looks like a great tool!

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  15. Great stuff..keep it coming girls! I am so excited that someone will benefit from this great tool!

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  16. I love pear budget! I used their free spreadsheet version before we were married, but i never made the jump to the online version. Even if I don't win, i will try and convince my husband that the jump is worth it.

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  17. I liked Pearbudget and LPLS!

    I love Pear Budget because it is so versatile and simple. My husband and I really need to get a handle on where our money goes. So this is a simple, easy way to do that and it has the benefit of being worth it in the long term. I totally want a subscription (my free trial is almost up) but I'll wait to see if I won anything.

    Liking your blog so far too!

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  18. Oh budgeting... I feel like my budget strategy still has training wheels attached, this Pearbudget thing sounds pretty good- I'll have to check it out.

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