Mint.com, a widely used personal finance app, recently announced its closure, leaving many users in search of an alternative. This unexpected change prompted me to reflect on our own experience with Mint and what ultimately led me to create One Goal Finance. Let's go back a few years.

When my wife Katie and I first got married, we were like many other young couples, navigating the challenges of limited finances as college students. We were drawn to Mint for its free service and user-friendly setup. It provided us with a clear snapshot of our spending habits and helped us gain insights into our financial history. Thanks to Mint, we were able to gain some control over our finances. However, over time, we found ourselves stuck in a cycle of repeating the same end-of-month budget discussions. Mint would signal that we had overspent, and we'd promise to do better in the next month, only to fall back into old habits. Sound familiar?

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The Pitfall of Reporting Tools

This pattern is all too common when relying solely on reporting tools:

1. Create a plan inspired at the beginning of the month
2. Maybe check it once or twice during the month
3. Realize at the end of the month that you're off track due to unexpected expenses
4. Commit to doing better next month
5. Repeat

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Monthly Budgeting Challenges

Imagine embarking on a cross-country road trip. How often would you check your gas gauge? Waiting until you're at the gas station wouldn't make sense. So why do we approach our finances this way? If we're budgeting on a monthly basis and want to know how much we can allocate for a date this week (while still meeting our goals), it's crucial to check our budget and do some mental math to ensure we have enough for additional plans later in the month. But who wants to do mental math?!

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We spend money on a weekly basis, so why are we still budgeting monthly? It's true that most of our bills are monthly, but this approach has its flaws. Our overspending never came from our bills, in fact, our bills were the most predictable expense! It was the same amount on the same day every month. It was our weekly or seasonal spending that threw us off track. This realization led us to create One Goal Finance, where we could set our goals and track our finances on a weekly basis.

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Empowering the Saver and the Spender

Unlike traditional finance software that primarily caters to savers, One Goal Finance offers an enjoyable experience for both spenders and savers. Our design choices focus on highlighting available funds for each of your custom categories, making it easy to see how much you can spend while still achieving your goals. One Goal bridges the gap by providing features that resonate with both financial personalities. From intuitive visuals for spenders to comprehensive reports for savers, this app is designed to meet the unique needs of both.

With bills taken care of, savers can confidently allocate funds for shared experiences, finding newfound freedom.

By default, I tend to save... One Goal has changed my behavior to suggest spending to create memories as a family - because I'm confident our bills our covered

Spenders, armed with a clear view of their available balances and understanding of where their money is allocated, can make wiser spending decisions that align with the family's financial goals.

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Goodbye Mint, Hello One Goal

As Mint.com prepares to bid farewell, many are in need of a reliable and user-friendly finance management solution. One Goal Finance stands out as the ideal choice for those looking to navigate the complexities of financial management in a marriage. With its tailored approach, emphasis on transparency, and empowerment of both spenders and savers, our app is poised to become the go-to platform for couples seeking financial harmony. Don't wait - make the switch to One Goal Finance today and take the first step towards a more secure and prosperous financial future together.