My job is directly connected to software testing automation, and I like it. In my opinion, automated processes are much more reliable and adjustable than manual ones. If you cannot automate a process, then the process is too complicated and can easily break down. Doing things manually requires documenting the process very thoroughly; otherwise, it is very easy to miss a step and get the wrong result.
So many things can be automated today using computers and the Internet, but my interest is finance. The first thing I would like to know is our income-to-expense ratio. I know many families who do not know their monthly family income and the monthly family expenses. It is possible to manage an Excel or Google spreadsheet to calculate income and expenses, but it would be a time-consuming process; therefore, it will not be executed every month.
However, this is important information for any family or company to start a path to financial health and financial independence.
After looking for a solution on the internet we chose www.mint.com. After signing up for Mint and providing all of our account information, there is no question about what our monthly income and expenses are anymore. I found this tool to be intuitive and easy to use. Their FAQ section is very useful and has the answers to many questions. We share our checking account and it appeared twice in Mint. It was easy to find a solution for duplicated accounts in Mint FAQ section.
Mint has categories for income and expenses, which could be modified to categorize them. It provides a focused picture on spending and potential categories to reduce spending.
Additionally, I am using a cash back credit card that automatically redeemed at the end of the year.
Google spreadsheets help me to automate portfolio-related stats like current yield, percentage investment per industry, capital gains and annual and monthly dividends.
