Carbonite.com
As long as I’m going around talking about services and things that I use, I might as well talk a little bit about my new backup solution.
As you may or may not be aware, I recently suffered through an untimely loss (of my computer). Attempts to resurrect the machine met with limited success. I basically bought myself enough time to order a new laptop and work towards organizing my files as best I could for transfer to the new machine.
Unfortunately during the course of this effort, I discovered that my previous backup solution had proved to be less than robust. Fortunately for me, obsessive compulsive behavior sometimes has its benefits. My backup had a backup (sort of) and I’m reasonably certain that my most if not all of my files are currently intact either on this machine or on my NAS appliance.
But this led me to think…maybe I should get something a little more robust.
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Mint.com
I’ve used Microsoft Money to track my finances for…years now. Maybe 2002. I’d have to dig around old cds to figure it out.
In any case, it wasn’t really a conscious decision. I think I got a free copy with a new computer or something along those lines. I had been using Quicken for much the same reason for a year or so prior to making the switch, but I didn’t really feel strongly one way or another. I just wanted to try and get a handle on how a person could be taking in so much money (relative to an average college student’s income) and still not have anything.
Never did figure that out.
Time went on, and I found out about Microsoft and Quicken’s little ploy. The first hit can be free, but you’ll pay us every year/other year to continue to watch all of your money circle the drain.
And I did. I’ve bought all the upgrades that have come out for Microsoft Money from 2002 onwards. The good ones and the really really bad ones.
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