Web 2.0 Tools to Help Encourage Wise Spending

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Blippy
Blippy is site dedicated to tracking information regarding what purchases you and your friends make and then using that information to spark conversation via your Facebook and Twitter accounts. It does this in one of three ways:

It can be tied to credit and debit cards to automatically update your status’ whenever you use them to make certain predefined purchase types (like new clothes or a new video game).
It can scan your email inbox for receipts (again for predefined types of items).
It can synch with various e-commerce based sites using your account information for those places in order to track the way in which you use them.
Once you set your account up it will use your Facebook and Twitter (if authorized) to invite all of your friends to set up their own accounts. You can then use the system to see what interesting items your friends are buying, what people though about the stuff they purchased and whether they managed to get a good deal or not.

It’s a great way to see what kind items everyone you know is currently into, as well as providing valuable  information on what people already have (for when it comes to buying gifts). That said if you find you’re unable to control yourself when it comes to excessive spending, getting this application can encourage you to buy items that you really don’t need (though at least with Blippy you know who to ask if you want to borrow something).

This is a guest post by Annie Wallace aka viral mom.

Resources:
Money-Savvy Kids: Parenting Penny-Wise Kids in a Money-Hungry World
Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise: 1,001 Money-Saving Secrets to Curb Your Spending, Clear Up Financial Chaos, and Make Your Life Easier