Online Tools

[Frixxxx]

Post here for online tools for budgeting.

[Mapper]

I used Mint and liked it but don't keep up because I'm too erratic with my spending. Not everything can be allocated on a monthly basis. Sometimes I take trips, sometimes I buy stuff etc. etc. I just decided instead to set a savings goal, automate the transfers and "live however I see fit" off the rest. If my living expenses get too high I have to manual transfer $ out of savings...then I can scold myself. Just had to do it this month when I made gametime decision on spendy new mt. bike. Bad Mapper!!!!:D

In any case, I liked being able to access from home or office and they have a pretty reasonable android app. Once you set a budget with them they will email you anytime you exceed you category limit. You will need to go in occasionally and adjust some of the automatic categories as it is not perfect. I also had consistent issues with the site accessing my information from a US bank credit card...maybe it's fixed now, don't know

[JTH]

I tried to us Mint once, but it wouldn't sync with my USAA account and support on this issue (from both USAA & Mint) was **** poor so I gave up. :(

[RealMoneyIssues]

Been using Mint for 2 years now with USAA, NFCU, TSP, Fidelity (soon TDAmeritrade), and too many credit card companies...

I like it.

[JTH]

Been using Mint for 2 years now with USAA, NFCU, TSP, Fidelity (soon TDAmeritrade), and too many credit card companies...

I like it.

Cool, I may have to spin the wheels again and see if I can get the USAA working. It was about a year ago and it wouldn't work (although it did appear to work for most folks) it was some sort of sync/username password issue.

[RealMoneyIssues]

Cool, I may have to spin the wheels again and see if I can get the USAA working. It was about a year ago and it wouldn't work (although it did appear to work for most folks) it was some sort of sync/username password issue.

If you use the custom features of the USAA interface, you might have a problem.

[JTH]

If you use the custom features of the USAA interface, you might have a problem.

What do you mean by custom features?

[RealMoneyIssues]

What do you mean by custom features?

On your 'My Accounts' screen, there is a 'Turn on your Custom View' and if you don't have that link you might already be using the custom views. Turn them off when you try Mint out to see if there are any issues. I would suspect that you won't use the custom views if you are using Mint...

[Boghie]

So, Sequester the Molester is staring me in the face - behind shades in a clapped out blue full size van from the 1970s...
Not a nice image. Not a nice reality...

Too bad the Money Managers we call Congress and our Agency's Political Leadership are so dumb moneywise. My Agency's fine leadership thought they could play the 'cut to the bone' game. They finally lost that one during the last BRAC, they appear to be losing this one in the first inning. Oh well, it would have been much easier to deal with a 4% pay cut spread out over the year than a 20% pay cut taken over a period of five or six pay periods. I guess they thought Joe Sixpack would never want any part of the gubmint to cut its bloated budget.

So, since this is an 'on-line' tool thread, may I recommend DinkyTown.Net's 'Payroll Deduction Calculator' (http://www.dinkytown.net/java/Payroll.html).

We've all seen the simplistic Sequester Calculators of Doom. The ones that don't take the fact that your Social Security, Medicare, State, Federal, and 401(k) (TSP) deductions are reduced proportionally from your gross salary. Those reductions will somewhat buffer the kill shot. This one does. Additionally, you can figure out the rather smallish change resulting from your pension deduction.

Now, for me, that means that I can pre-pay the two months left on my car loan to free up some cash flow and dump my Federal and State taxes via additional withholdings while simultaneously increasing my TSP contributions to keep those where I want them. And, not lose a dime in take home pay. All I have to do is be careful to increase my withholdings to cover the difference upon the conclusion of the sequester. I can use the money that was going into my car payment (and during the sequester was going to my take home pay) to cover my tax bite. I can overpay in October, November, and December what I underpay in July, August, and September. It can be a dangerous game, but - as the gubmint is learning - math is king. Too bad the goobers running the show are lawyers.

It's nice to have the tools to kick the grabber in the teeth. And who knows, I might keep my TSP contributions high just to keep on kicking...

[burrocrat]

yeah brother, let 'em have it, both barrels. suckas.


So, Sequester the Molester is staring me in the face - behind shades in a clapped out blue full size van from the 1970s...
Not a nice image. Not a nice reality...

Too bad the Money Managers we call Congress and our Agency's Political Leadership are so dumb moneywise. My Agency's fine leadership thought they could play the 'cut to the bone' game. They finally lost that one during the last BRAC, they appear to be losing this one in the first inning. Oh well, it would have been much easier to deal with a 4% pay cut spread out over the year than a 20% pay cut taken over a period of five or six pay periods. I guess they thought Joe Sixpack would never want any part of the gubmint to cut its bloated budget.

So, since this is an 'on-line' tool thread, may I recommend DinkyTown.Net's 'Payroll Deduction Calculator' (http://www.dinkytown.net/java/Payroll.html).

We've all seen the simplistic Sequester Calculators of Doom. The ones that don't take the fact that your Social Security, Medicare, State, Federal, and 401(k) (TSP) deductions are reduced proportionally from your gross salary. Those reductions will somewhat buffer the kill shot. This one does. Additionally, you can figure out the rather smallish change resulting from your pension deduction.

Now, for me, that means that I can pre-pay the two months left on my car loan to free up some cash flow and dump my Federal and State taxes via additional withholdings while simultaneously increasing my TSP contributions to keep those where I want them. And, not lose a dime in take home pay. All I have to do is be careful to increase my withholdings to cover the difference upon the conclusion of the sequester. I can use the money that was going into my car payment (and during the sequester was going to my take home pay) to cover my tax bite. I can overpay in October, November, and December what I underpay in July, August, and September. It can be a dangerous game, but - as the gubmint is learning - math is king. Too bad the goobers running the show are lawyers.

It's nice to have the tools to kick the grabber in the teeth. And who knows, I might keep my TSP contributions high just to keep on kicking...

[Boghie]

The Sequester Molester is driving his clapped out blue full size van - wearing his cheap shades - around town. He will pick up his first set of victims in my agency on Monday. I will be drawn in by candy and sweet talk. Such a nice young man Mr. Sequester is...

But how has that DinkyTown thang gone.

First, I thought it would take more time for the tax and allotment changes to take place. I am suddenly rich.
Second, the computations in the DinkyTown calculator (http://www.dinkytown.net/java/Payroll.html) were not perfect, but were quite good. I strongly recommend it.

I think I will actually be able to reduce my withholdings - but I will do the wait and see thang. Again, I highly recommend the DinkyTown financial calculators... As a result of a little luck, a little prior planning, and the DinkyTown calculator I will have 911 on my cell phone speed dial when the Sequester Molester leers my way.

[Boghie]

Re(1): www.multpl.com (http://www.multpl.com/)

I think there are those of us - maybe even me, the Village Idiot - who can make use of this website: www.multpl.com (http://www.multpl.com/)

You want to know what the current S&P500 P/E is. Look there. To the day. The Shiller P/E of the S&P500. Yup. How about the GDP of some Eurotrash country. Yes Sir!!! And, they have nice charts and everything. Looks kinda like we are done with the easy gains - sorry Amoeba, too bad you overthought things and spent so much time out of the market. Now, we are in a normal flight path. Nice to have more than doubled since 2008... But, a normal 10% market ain't a bad thing - Amoeba, the Orcs are right around the corner!!!

[nnuut]

CCleaner.com:)

[dox1842]

Hey guys I havent posted in a while. I just started using mint.com. I have my credit card, checking, savings, and an IRA through my bank put in the program. I see some people put their TSP accounts into the program also. Just curious whats the point of this? Is it just so you can see all your accounts in one nifty program? How does TSP feel about putting your username and password into a third party program? I remember there was a third party TSP app for iPhone and the government sent out a warning not to use it because it was not endorsed by the government. ps: I have two tsp accounts. One for civil service and one for military reserves. If I was to put in my information I wonder if it would display corectly.

[RealMoneyIssues]

Hey guys I havent posted in a while. I just started using mint.com. I have my credit card, checking, savings, and an IRA through my bank put in the program. I see some people put their TSP accounts into the program also. Just curious whats the point of this? Is it just so you can see all your accounts in one nifty program? How does TSP feel about putting your username and password into a third party program? I remember there was a third party TSP app for iPhone and the government sent out a warning not to use it because it was not endorsed by the government. ps: I have two tsp accounts. One for civil service and one for military reserves. If I was to put in my information I wonder if it would display corectly.
Been using Mint for almost 4 years now and love it. I don't know about the two TSP accounts though, but I would assume it would show both.

Mint has its occasional issues, but its free... some people get all bent out of shape when it stops updating (usually when a bank, etc changes they layout of they website), but I guess they expect perfection for free. BTW, Mint is owned by Intuit of Quickbooks and Turbotax fame.

[dox1842]

is there an advantage to having my tsp account on there?

[RealMoneyIssues]

is there an advantage to having my tsp account on there?

I like having everything in one place, but I suppose its really up to how you want to track your finances.


Sent from my (Daughter forcing me to use an) iPhone using Tapatalk...

[dox1842]

I like having everything in one place, but I suppose its really up to how you want to track your finances.


Sent from my (Daughter forcing me to use an) iPhone using Tapatalk...
https://www.tsp.gov/whatsnew/plan/planNews.shtml
This is the only mention that TSP officially makes about using mint.com. The mention is at the bottom of the page and it just states that a new stronger password is required to track tsp funds using the service. I guess TSP isnt against using mint.com? I know there was a huge deal a while back when someone came otu with an app that tracked TSP performance and required the username an password.

[Frixxxx]

https://www.tsp.gov/whatsnew/plan/planNews.shtml
This is the only mention that TSP officially makes about using mint.com. The mention is at the bottom of the page and it just states that a new stronger password is required to track tsp funds using the service. I guess TSP isnt against using mint.com? I know there was a huge deal a while back when someone came otu with an app that tracked TSP performance and required the username an password.
TSP.gov would never say not to use 3rd party software to track performance. They are mandated by law to provide you the information, which can be monitored from their site.

Are you thinking that linking the account from mint.com is illegal? That is not true.

[dox1842]

TSP.gov would never say not to use 3rd party software to track performance. They are mandated by law to provide you the information, which can be monitored from their site.

Are you thinking that linking the account from mint.com is illegal? That is not true.
Im not thinking that its illegal. Im thinking that it would not be recommended. TSP warns participants against free iPhone app from Apple store - The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2013/03/11/dont-use-the-app-for-that-tsp-warns/) Sorry for posting the whole adress to the link but I do not know how to make a hyperlink adress show up as a regular sentence. This is the tsp iPhone app I was talking about. How can TSP say not to use your password and login on this 3rd party software but to use it in mint is ok??

[Frixxxx]

Im not thinking that its illegal. Im thinking that it would not be recommended. TSP warns participants against free iPhone app from Apple store - The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2013/03/11/dont-use-the-app-for-that-tsp-warns/) Sorry for posting the whole adress to the link but I do not know how to make a hyperlink adress show up as a regular sentence. This is the tsp iPhone app I was talking about. How can TSP say not to use your password and login on this 3rd party software but to use it in mint is ok??
Yep, anytime you provide login credentials to an app that stores it, you assume the risk. But TSP requires wet signatures on loans/withdrawals. Use wisely. Your risk.

[k0nkuzh0n]

The reason I include ALL accounts into mint is for trending of net worth over time. So the account balance is all I really need for Mint.

[dox1842]

I find it strange that TSP and every one in the gov would speak out against this iPhone app but then not mention a word about mint.com. You have to provide login information to both 3rd party apps. I mean I guess the risk is low if you have to have a hard signature to withdrawal funds.

Yep, anytime you provide login credentials to an app that stores it, you assume the risk. But TSP requires wet signatures on loans/withdrawals. Use wisely. Your risk.

[nnuut]

No Sir, I don't like it!:worried:

[TommyIV]

Free FERS Planning Tool

This is cool. Worth playing with. You can make adjustments according to your journey to retirement.

FERS Planner (fers-calculator.web.app) (https://fers-calculator.web.app/#)