I don't believe Mint really has much access, because it doesn't get my
account numbers, it just gets to view my online statements. So I don't
believe it wields much power. The manual transactions are why I use the
Google Doc, and Mint then is just for reporting and bill reminders.

Although I've read that Quicken bought Mint and they are hoping to add
manual transactions soon! Now if only ING Direct would play nice with
them…

Thanks again!

But you said you wanted a system that allowed you to keep your account numbers safe and allowed for manual transactions. If that's the case, why are you using Mint? Mint users are forced to reveal all their account information and can't add manual transactions. I use Mint and these are two things that bug me.

I'm trying out ClearCheckbook.com because they allow more versatility in the types of accounts you can add, you aren't forced to give up any account numbers and you track your own transactions.

I don't believe Mint really has much access, because it doesn't get my
account numbers, it just gets to view my online statements. So I don't
believe it wields much power. The manual transactions are why I use the
Google Doc, and Mint then is just for reporting and bill reminders.

Although I've read that Quicken bought Mint and they are hoping to add
manual transactions soon! Now if only ING Direct would play nice with
them…

Thanks again!

But you said you wanted a system that allowed you to keep your account numbers safe and allowed for manual transactions. If that's the case, why are you using Mint? Mint users are forced to reveal all their account information and can't add manual transactions. I use Mint and these are two things that bug me.

I'm trying out ClearCheckbook.com because they allow more versatility in the types of accounts you can add, you aren't forced to give up any account numbers and you track your own transactions.

I think I understand what you're asking: the reason I don't just rely on
Mint is because there's no way to manually track transactions. So when I
write a check, or I'm waiting for something to clear, I need to make sure I
subtract that from my records so that I don't accidentally spend that money
again. Is that what you're asking?

The way I did it before was to keep my receipts until I got my statement and then check off all the receipts against the statement. I'd put a check next to the transaction on the statement and whatever didn't have a checkmark next to it after I went through all the receipts meant I had to look into it. I would check online along the way, but just held the receipt until I was able to officially mark it off on something permanent.

But now I'm thinking forget checking against the statement, I'll check against the current online statement, but I really want to make a note to myself that the transaction checked out and everything is good. Or I want to note other important things about the transaction.

This is why I like my Google Docs spreadsheet but it seems a waste to enter in transaction information twice if it already exists in another form. So this is where I'm torn on what to do… Do I keep just using my google docs spreadsheet and keep entering in the transaction info manually.. or can I work right out of mint.com.

Ideally, I'd be able to go through mint.com, make notes there and select certain transactions to export into my google docs document.

I feel what I posted is confusing…

As far as your credit union goes, do a Google search for your credit union's
name and Mint. If you don't find an answer, check out
http://www.mint.com/help/. There are some support forums you can search in
there, or you can email Mint's customer service department and ask about it.

Thanks for checking out this article!