CountAbout

  • Home
  • About
  • FAQs
  • Reviews
  • Pricing
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Log In
  • Sign Up
  • Affiliates
Log InSign Up

Monday Night Finance- Volume 64

generic monday night finance header
Monday, 28 March 2022 / Published in Monday Night Finance

Monday Night Finance- Volume 64

5 Ways to Keep Inflation from Destroying Your Finances

Even if you haven’t consumed any news in the past month, it’s hard not to realize we are going through a period with record inflation. The cost of pretty much everything at the grocery store is jumping by leaps and bounds. Not to mention the prices at the gas station (or at the auto-dealer). In fact, it’s hard to think of something that hasn’t exploded in price over the past 1-2 years. If inflation is causing you to worry, here’s an article with tangible steps you can take to help keep your finances in order even as prices are rising all around you. Another great way to lessen the sting of inflation is to cash in rewards points or use cash-back apps. This is something I have been implementing in my own life and used credit card points to lessen the sting when I needed to replace my cell phone that finally kicked the bucket. If these ideas are getting you excited, check out the article for the rest of Jessi’s tips!

Inflation stings and it doesn’t help much when you go on social media and see all the ‘doomsday-better-get-prepared-for-it-to-get-worse” posts. It also doesn’t help when the grocery stores are constantly out of things. I feel you. It sucks. It honestly does. I wish I could tell you when this will all get better but the reality is I have no idea when that’ll be. But what I do know is that there are some things that you can do starting this week to help alleviate some of the pressures you’re feeling. ~Jessi Fearon

Jessi Fearon shares her top 5 ways to help keep your family finances in order even with the record inflation we are having. Step number 1 is to keep a budget. (CountAbout can help you set up your budget in no time if you’re struggling.) Since prices seem to be changing rapidly, Jessi does not recommend setting up a forever budget that extends super far into the future. However, you can get started with just budgeting the next month and trying to stick to that budget.

Crypto and NFTs: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

At this point, you’ve probably heard someone talk about cryptocurrency. But do you really know what it’s all about? I saw a funny meme that split the world into four types of people in a Johari window. The left and right halves of the window divided people that did/didn’t understand crypto and the top and bottom halves of the window were people that owned and didn’t own crytpo. By placing TV characters in the different window, the meme was making funny statements about the crypto market. If you’re someone that doesn’t know what crypto is and have neve invested in crypto, then this article by Physician on FIRE is a great introduction for you.

But what exactly is Bitcoin, and crypto? And what about these new NFTs? What exactly are all of these things? How do they work? What should you look out for? In this post, all of this and more will be revealed. ~Physician On FIRE

The article provides a great introduction to blockchain, DeFi, crypto, and NFTs. While these seem like complicated topics when tech-bros talk about them on podcasts, all of these concepts are quite simple. For example, DeFi simply means decentralized finance, or a financial system where there are no banks or other intermediaries. DeFi is possible because cryptocurrencies use blockchain technology where individual transactions are recorded on multiple computer networks meaning that it is much harder to hack the system to alter or steal the cryptocurrency. Even if you have no intention of ever owning any Bitcoin, it’s worth reading the article and familiarizing yourself with how these markets work.

25 Shocking Financial Myths Young Adults Fall For

Nobody likes being a called a fool. We all like to pretend that we know exactly what is going on in this world and that we are too smart to ever fall for a silly trick. But, at the same time, if we pretend to know everything, then perhaps we may make mistakes that prevent us from achieving our goals. When it comes to money, are you confident you are doing all the right things? Or are you simply going along with the flow?

It’s hard to be a young adult in today’s economy. You’re constantly bombarded with messages about how you should handle your money, and it’s often difficult to know who to believe. In this blog post, we will debunk some of the most common financial myths that young people fall for. ~Financial Lunatic

This article by the Financial Lunatic examines some common money myths and explains what you should be doing with your money instead. For example, some people believe they need to carry a balance on their credit card each month to build credit history. Not only is this not true, but carrying a balance costs you money each month you carry that balance. Many other money myths involve that “some day” phenomenon. For example, I don’t need to think about money until I’m married, or have my first job, or until I’m older. Being smart with money is important at every age and procrastinating hurts you because your money has less time to compound. If these money myths sound similar to your beliefs, check out the article to get a clear picture of what to do with your money.

  • Tweet

What you can read next

generic monday night finance header
Monday Night Finance- Volume 15
Monday Night Finance- Volume 28
generic monday night finance header
Monday Night Finance- Volume 61

Free 45-Day Trial

Free 45-Day Trial

Reviews

Shirley Hou
CountAbout was Perfect
15-03-2017

I was looking for finance software to use as treasurer of the parent-teacher association at my child's school. CountAbout was perfect - it had all the register features and download capabilities that I was familiar with from desktop Quicken, but it has the advantage of being in the cloud so I can use it from any computer.

 
Avatar
Amanda Sherlock
25-08-2020

I started using Quicken in 1987, before I had my own PC. I continued using it for years, frustrated by the frequent breaks in the synchronization. Finally I took the leap and used Mint for a year or two. Free software is worth as much as I pay for. Finally, in 2019 I found Countabout. The synchronization is great and I am happy to have a product that's easy to use and reliable. The customer support is excellent and very responsive to my questions.
There aren't as many bells and whistles as Quicken but the simplicity outweighs the complications.

 
Barbara Ann Feeney
16-05-2016

I switched from pencil and paper on grid accounting paper, then to a Google spreadsheet, then to CountAbout. Really happy with how this app makes it easy to track how I doing, staying (or not) on budget.

 
Avatar
Steve P.
22-09-2017

My search for a cloud-based alternative to Quicken is over! Very easy to transfer my Quicken data and customize my account. Thank you CountAbout!

 
‏@davepurcell
15-11-2016

I rarely tweet endorsements, but -- after years of using/hating Quicken, Countabout is awesome for tracking home budget/finances. Thx!

 
Avatar
Richard Luna
03-02-2021

I'm a one-person real estate brokerage and having accurate financial records and being able to easily search transactions and generate reports is crucial. I'd been using Quicken for Mac for 10+ years and wanted to migrate to using a Chromebook instead of a Mac, to do that I had to find a replacement for Quicken.

The replacement had to be online; available from my phone, tablet, etc., and no software installations almost every year. I immediately dismissed any 'free' financial software (Mint, etc.) - I believe that you get what you pay for and there is no such thing as 'free.'

I settled on Tiller and CountAbout and subscribed to both; I quickly decided that a spreadsheet is not what I wanted. I wanted something that worked a lot like Quicken and CountAbout fit the bill. It took me awhile to fully embrace it but once I did I've been very happy and would not go back to Quicken even if they offered a fully online version. The few times I've had a question about using CountAbout I've always gotten a response by the end of the day - and often in an hour or less. If feels like I'm working with a small enterprise that's interested in putting out a superior application, improving it and solving issues and responding to questions. I'm very satisfied!

 
David M.
16-07-2016

CountAbout is as easy to use on my mobile as it is on the desktop and it provides me with the same or better information than Quicken.

 
Avatar
Jim Powell
17-03-2018

Vastly superior to the execrable Quicken, which caused me to have to choose a new bank password every time I used it. CA is fast, simple, and all you need unless you have a complicated investment portfolio. Its almost fun!

 
Nate E.
05-02-2016

Fantastic! I finally found a great replacement for Quicken! CountAbout is entirely cloud-based, so you can access it from whatever OS you happen to be using. And the mobile app isn't hamstrung like Quicken's. No looking back for me, this is a great app and a great service!

 
Avatar
Jeffrey Wilk
02-04-2018

Great product and great customer service. Thanks!

 
Avatar
Keith Hurst
22-05-2020

I've been trying to ditch Quicken for years, finally a worthy replacement, but it's so much more, so clean and intuitively designed. I was really surprised and delighted to find a full featured iphone app that meets all my needs.

 
Avatar
Nancy
10-08-2018

I love CountAbout! I have hated Quicken for years, but didn't have an alternative. Now I do! I love that the cost is only $9.99 per year for the basic service (which is all I need). You can upgrade for more features, if you need them. But for personal use, the basic plan is just fine. When I found CountAbout, I gleefully gave Quicken the boot and I haven't looked back or missed it at all. Bye bye Quicken!!!

 
Widgets to Compare Monthly Spending in Active Categories
17-02-2017

Huzzah! I can add widgets now and already made one to compare my monthly spending in my active categories to my budget. Excellent. That tool is one of my favorite features in a personal finance product.

 
Avatar
Ann
28-06-2021

Countabout's concept is awesome. I track checking and credit cards by transactions, and investments by total only. The reason for four stars is that periodically the investment accounts refuse to update the correct amount. Then, I have to unlink the account, delete the account then set up the account a second, third or fourth time. Often times, when trying to link a new account, CA logs me out. If you have patience, CA is a hundred times better than Quicken, but not yet perfect. Still trying to set up a credit card account after 6 attempts. At some point, it will click.

 
Avatar
Dana Linder
29-03-2019

This is an incredibly well thought out program.

It imports QIF files perfectly. I tried a number that failed miserably.

It has a function that emails reminders about scheduled transactions. That is an extremely useful function that I hadn't seen anywhere.

Tech support is second to none. All my questions were answered in detail within hours (sometimes minutes).

The companion phone app is very simple. You can browse, search, enter transactions and see scheduled transaction. That's really all you need on the phone.

It's one failing for me is that I have a transaction that I have a transaction that occurs on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, and it's not possible to set that up. It's easy enough for me to change the date of next transaction when I enter the current one.

I am extremely impressed with the company. The trial is free for 15 days. You have nothing to lose.

 
Avatar
Colin R. Vine
13-07-2021

I have been using Countabout Basic for a few months now and love the program. It is far and away better than any other personal finance program I have used.
I would recommend Countabout to anyone. Give it a try. The web interface is easy to use on my Chromebook and on my Android phone and tablet.
When I have had a query, the company has written back almost instantaneously. Great service!

 
My Bank Tracker
24-11-2016

...you won’t be bombarded with ads when you log in. Mint, for example, uses targeted ads to help keep the platform free. All in all, CountAbout could be a good choice for Quicken and Mint users who want to start fresh with their finances without losing their past transaction history.

 
Mark Goldfarb
20-01-2017

I love the software – nice and clean – the categories was a must have that your competitors are lacking.

 
Avatar
Wayne Everett
07-02-2022

I have been using Countabout for over 2 years. I got sick of quicken continuing to "improve" itself with crap I did not want, even if they did not increase their costs constantly. Countabout has done everything that I need. I have 20+ accounts linked and all is great!

 

Archive

  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016

Search

About Us

CountAbout® is an easy-to-use online personal finance application that imports data from Quicken and Mint and automatically downloads data from banking, credit card, and retirement accounts. With no software to install, we’re anywhere you have an Internet connection. Our platform is stable, secure, and totally private. Our dedicated customer service team is friendly, knowledgeable, and quick to respond.

Never lose track of your finances, or the big picture, with CountAbout. Sign up for a free 45-day trial today.

Contact Us

1360 Regent St., Suite 154
Madison, WI 53715
(608) 313-5629

  • GET SOCIAL

© CountAbout. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions

TOP