SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - As Natalie Anderson does her weekly grocery shopping and plans the family meals, she thinks about what she as left to do before Christmas while trying to control her 2-year-old Luca. But Natalie does have one thing under control: her budget.
She says, “Usually when I go grocery shopping I will just make a quick phone call to see where my budget is, so I know going in I can only spend X.”
The phone call she makes is to expense tracker, a money-tracking system that helps you know how much money you have, and where you are spending it.
Owner Eric Tippetts says if you don't know how much money you are spending, you can easily overspend. “We help people get back on track, and find money for the holidays,” says Tippetts.
Natalie said she was pretty good about a budget before expense tracker, but she found she was spending more than she thought. She says, “ We spend a lot more on junk food than I thought. I thought we were really good, but there are a lot of bug juices we pick up at the gas station.”
Natalie spent about 5 minutes setting up her personal budget on the website. Then when she makes a purchase, she calls in to their secure automated system and say "Groceries, $52.86," says Natalie.
Or the service shoots her a text before the expense is forgotten. “It's definitely the accountability that people need, especially these days. Everybody thinks you need a lot more money but you can stretch it a lot further.” Tippets says. “I know change is hard, but the whole reason why we made it online or by voice or by text message is because we understand how hard change is."
But Natalie has made that change, and this year, Luca may find a few more presents under the tree.
