Fortunately, American Express provides several easy ways to plan your vacation and book your travel. You can search for and book special offers, flights, cruises, hotel rooms, rental cars and more:

• Online, at AmericanExpress.com
• By phone, through a travel specialist
• In person, at one of the conveniently located American Express travel offices

If you’re familiar with using online travel sites like Expedia to book trips, you’ll have no problem navigating the American Express travel center.

Before you search for flights, hotel rooms and more, though, make sure to browse the special offers, which fall into three categories:

• Last minute deals
• Last minute offers
• Unforgettable journeys

The travel home page showcases even more special offers, such as a savings of $300 when you book your flight and hotel together, and last-minute cruise deals. You can explore travel deals by interest (such as “City Escapes” or “Sun and Sand”) or by destination. An entire column of cruise offers from various carriers leads me to believe the American Express card is the card to have if you like cruises.

If you are paying for all or part of your vacation with Reward Points, you can do so at checkout. When you book with your American Express card, you get 2X membership points.

There’s no doubt the best way to get the lowest prices on your travel itinerary with your American Express card is to book the trip online. If you opt to speak with a travel specialist at one of the American Express Travel Offices, you may be subject to a $150 planning deposit, refundable upon final booking.  Additional service fees may apply to individual airline, car, or hotel reservations. You’ll probably need to go online to find the phone number for a travel specialist in your area — so why not book your trip while you’re there?

For Platinum card members planning a complex itinerary, you can use the Platinum Card Concierge service to plan your trip at no charge and then go online to book your flights, hotels, etc. with your American Express card, earning double rewards points when you do.

Sometimes, it’s nice to meet with a travel agent face-to-face, especially if you’re planning an important trip like a honeymoon and aren’t quite sure where you’d like to go or what you’d like to do. The American Express travel center provides this option at one of their 22,000 worldwide Travel Offices. Maybe you’re already traveling and want to extend your itinerary; you may want to meet with someone, locally, in person.

Again, you may be charged a $150 (refundable) deposit for your itinerary and additional service fees for booking flights, hotels and rental cars.

Even so, many people like planning their travel through a travel agent with real-life experience and education in their specialty area. According to the American Express website, the company’s Travel Specialists are trained accredited in their specialty area.

If you intend to book a trip using your American Express card in person or on phone through the Travel Center, it might make sense to apply for an American Express Platinum card, where these services are offered at no charge through the platinum card’s concierge service.

If you make a late payment, credit card companies are still permitted to raise your interest rate to the default rate (without 25 days notice). But some credit card companies are raising interest rates for no good reason. Fortunately, thanks to the Credit CARD Act, they are required to give you 25 days notice, which is long enough to take action. Here are some options to consider when facing a credit card rate increase.

• Opt-out and close the card
• Call and negotiate a lower rate
• Transfer your balance
• Pay off your balance quickly

You can use these techniques if:

• You made one late payment in recent history
• Your introductory interest rate expired
• Your credit card issuer decided to raise your interest rate for another reason

Let’s explore the options.

This technique worked more effectively prior to the credit crunch and the Credit CARD Act, but it’s worth the phone call. If your interest rate went up because you made one late payment, and it was your first infraction, the credit card company may give you a second chance. Sometimes, if you sign up for automatic bill payment, the credit card company will be more forgiving. We recently negotiated a lower rate with a Discover card by signing up for automatic bill pay, that way they knew we’d never miss another payment.
Ask to speak to a supervisor right away — he or she will have authority to lower your interest rate. You can also threaten to transfer your balance to another card if they won’t lower your rate. Stay calm, polite and rationale throughout the negotiation — you’ll get better results.

Transfer your balance to a lower interest rate card, if you have one available. You can check out Creditshout’s credit card reviews to select a better card. If you’re applying for a new card, make sure to consider the impact on your credit score — after a slight dip due to opening a new account, your credit score should rise (if you make timely payments) because your debt-to-available credit ratio has dropped.
Also pay attention to balance transfer fees that may cost you more money in the long run. Do the math before making a hasty decision. Your best-case scenario is to transfer the balance to a 0 % card with no balance transfer fees and pay it off before the introductory rate expires.

Obviously, keeping a balance on credit cards costs money. If most people could pay off their balances, they would. But when you’re faced with an interest rate increase that could cost you hundreds (or thousands) of dollars a year, you’ll be surprised how many corners you can cut if you take an honest look at your budget.
Make only the minimum payments on your other credit cards and focus on paying off the card quickly. For help budgeting, you might consider using a program like Mint.com which helps you track your income and expenses.

By law, credit card companies give you the option to opt out of an interest rate increase — but there’s a catch. You can close the card and pay off your existing balance at the current, lower interest rate. This can negatively affect your credit score, especially if you’ve had the account a long time, and should be a last resort.

Make sure to read your credit card statements every month so you won’t be surprised by a credit card interest rate increase and you can deal with it in a timely manner.

Honestly, if you’re looking for a new credit card — perhaps to transfer balances from higher interest cards — you’re better off reading the reviews here at CreditShout and picking the best one for your needs.

The good news about credit card junk mail? Unsolicited offers for new credit cards do not show up as inquiries on any of your credit reports. That only makes them slightly less of a hassle, though.

If you’re not in the market for a new credit card (for instance, you just bought a house and couldn’t get one if you wanted to), credit card junk mail is an even bigger annoyance. And how the heck do the credit card companies find you so fast in your new digs, anyway?

If I sound frustrated, I am. My husband and I have been deluged with credit card offers for several years. That is, until I opted out of credit card junk mail. Tired of unsolicited, pre-screened credit card offers? You can opt out of credit card junk mail, too.

Three Ways to Opt Out of Credit Card Junk Mail
The Federal Trade Commission, in cooperation with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion and Experian) offers three ways to opt out of receiving credit card junk mail.

• On the Web – Go to optoutprescreen.com and provide your name, address and social security number. (Your SSN is encrypted). You can opt-out electronically for five years. You can also opt out permanently by printing and mailing the permanent opt-out form found on the site. If you ever change your mind, you can go to the same website and “opt-in.”
• By Phone – The FTC lists a phone number you can call to opt out of credit card junk mail for 5 years: Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (567-8688).
• By Mail – If you prefer not to provide your social security number on a website or by phone, you can opt out by submitting a letter to each credit agency individually. The FTC supplies a sample letter on their website, along with the addresses for each credit bureau.

Not Quite “Junk,” But Still “Mail”
After I opted out of all the mailing lists for credit card offers, I decided I could minimize my snail mail in another way. My goal is eventually to receive only checks and magazine subscriptions via the postal service, at least until print publications are all available on Kindle.

First, I set up a separate email address for my finances. Then I went to the website for each of my current credit cards and requested e-statements only, to be sent to that new address. Then I did the same for my bank and all my utility bills. I also found the option on each site to receive any notifications and news via email only, and selected that.

Now, I receive e-statements, electronic bill pay reminders, and electronic confirmations my bill is paid. No more dead trees in our house, unless you count the paper I use to write the rough draft of my column each day. I’m working on that.

Unfortunately, the power of this credit card dissipates after six-to-ten months, when the 3X rewards points on gas, grocery and drug store purchases and the 0 % APR expires. Even so, the flexibility of being able to redeem your points for travel, merchandise or cash back, along with a host of handy benefits, make this card worthwhile, especially if you’re tying it to a Bank of America checking account for added convenience.

Overview: The BankAmericard Power Rewards Visa Signature card has an amazing introductory offer which then expires to create a solid, versatile, yet somewhat unremarkable rewards credit card that gives you one point for every dollar spent. Bank of America’s online customer service, easy online banking, and the ability to use the credit card for overdraft checking are additional benefits that make this card worth looking at. Visa’s Signature travel and entertainment benefits, which include concierge services and personal shopping, rival those offered with top-of-the-line American Express cards.

How This Card Works: A standard Visa card for people with good-to-excellent credit, the card provides 3X points on gas, grocery and drug store purchases for the first six months, and then a basic one point for every dollar earned after that.

You can redeem points easily online through the WorldRewards center.

The introductory APR of 0 % will go up to a low 12.99 after the first 7-to-10-months, depending on your credit and a number of other factors, including credit history, payment history, employment and your banking history specifically with Bank of America.

Rewards: Earn one point for every dollar spent after the 6-month introductory period where you get triple points for gas, grocery and drug store purchases. Redeem cards online in the WorldRewards center or by phone, to get:

• Merchandise
• Gift cards
• Direct deposit into your Bank of America account or receive a check by mail
• VIP events and memorabilia
• Air travel, hotel stays, cruises
• Donations to your favorite charities

When you make a purchase with your BankAmericard Power Rewards Visa at the WorldReward center, you can get up to 10X bonus points on your card. You can earn unlimited points, but you must spend points within five years of the statement date that you earned them.

Benefits: As a Visa Signature card, the BankAmericard Power Rewards Signature Visa gives you the full line of benefits offered with any BankAmericard. These include:

• Auto rental collision damage waiver
• Emergency card replacement and emergency cash disbursement
• Zero liability
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Roadside dispatch
• Travel and emergency assistance services
• Travel accident insurance

Visa Signature Benefits that come with this card include:

• Concierge service
• Personal shopping
• Access to special sports and entertainment events
• Fine Wine & Food services
• Warranty Manager services

These benefits put the card right up there with an American Express card for shopping convenience, warranty protection, and more.

Fees: There is no annual fee on this card. After the introductory 0% APR period of seven to 10 months, the variable APR will be set between 12.99% to 20.99%, depending on your creditworthiness, banking history and income. The variable APR for all direct deposits and cash advances after the introductory period is a high 24.24%. There is a 25-day grace period for new purchases if balance is paid in full at the end of the month.

There is a fee of 4% or $10 (whichever is greater) for cash advances, balance transfers and direct deposits. If you opt to use your credit card for overdraft protection on your Bank of America checking or savings account, you’ll pay a fee of 3% or $10 (whichever is greater), whenever you do.
Late payment fees are as follows:

• $15 if balance is $100 or less
• $29 for balances of $100.01 – $250
• $39 for balances more than $250
• Returned payment fee: $35
  
  Pros:
• Easy-to-understand Rewards system
• Opportunity to earn 10X Bonus Points in WorldPoints center store
• No limit on rewards points
• Redeem rewards for cash back, travel, merchandise and more
• Full warranty protection
• Extensive travel and shopping benefits, including concierge service
• Bank of America online 24/7 customer support
• No annual fee

Cons

• Five-year expiration date on Rewards
• Introductory APR expires after 7 to 10 months
• Triple Rewards Points offer expires after 6 months

Recent reports, most notably from the Huffington Post and Walletpop, say that people who make credit card chargebacks, though, are in danger of being “blacklisted” on a website called BadCustomer.com. Debatable chargebacks are considered a form of “friendly fraud.” According to the Walletpop article, friendly fraud is “an intentional action taken by a customer to cheat a retailer out of money and get merchandise for free.” It’s not as serious as regular fraud in which you’re using someone else’s card to make purchases, but it does have legal and financial ramifications — including your card privileges being revoked.

If you find your name on the list at BadCustomer.com, it will cost $99 to have it removed — unless you can prove it was an accident, either a miscommunication with the merchant (for instance, you did, in fact, return the goods and they didn’t receive it) or didn’t know what you were doing (for instance, you honestly thought you did return a product, but later found it in your car, ready to be mailed).

In either event, it can be a hassle to prove you were in the right. Use a credit card chargeback as a last resort. First, attempt to resolve the situation with the merchant. This action can take several forms:

• Return the merchandise.

If you made a purchase from a brick-and-mortar store and are dissatisfied, return the merchandise to the store for a refund. Even if you don’t have your receipt or the box, you can attempt to make the return. You may need to speak with a manager.

• Email or phone the merchant.If you’re disputing a product purchase made online, either because you were dissatisfied with your purchase or because you never received it, phone or email the e-tailer to work things out.

• Show proof.If you’re being billed for merchandise that you returned (for instance, before the end of a trial period) send a copy (not the original) of your receipt, packing slip or documentation that shows you mailed the merchandise back before the trial period ended.

• Threaten a chargeback. Chargebacks cost merchants $11.8 billion last year, according to Walletpop. Merchants would much rather resolve the matter without getting your credit card company involved. Often, the threat of a chargeback is enough to get your money refunded.

Often, consumers start a chargeback because they don’t recognize a particular charge. Some merchants have charge accounts in names that are different from their store. Look back over your receipts (both emailed and hard copy) for purchases matching that date on your statement. This should jog your memory.

If all else fails and you used a credit card to make your purchase, you can make a chargeback for a full refund. You can initiate a chargeback in one of three ways:

In writing, by mail or email – Send a letter or email stating the problem. Include any necessary documentation (sales receipts, mailing slips that shows you returned the merchandise, etc.), either as photocopies or scanned documents. Also include details about the steps you took to resolve the problem.

By phone – Call your credit card company’s customer service number and tell them you’d like to start a chargeback. They will give you further directions, which will probably include mailing your documentation.

• Most banks require customers file a chargeback claim within 60 days of the credit card statement date on which the disputed charge appears.
• Arm yourself with all documentation, including knowledge of the merchant’s return policy.
• Although you’re not required by law to attempt to resolve the dispute with the merchant directly, it’s a good idea to do so. Keep a record of all steps you take, including conversations and documentation you offered. Sometimes, threatening a chargeback is all you need to do to get a refund.

Many credit cards offer rental car insurance, travel insurance, and other benefits that help you when you’re on the road. But which card offers the best travel benefits? Book your spring vacation with one of these top travel benefit cards and you’ll get something money can’t buy — peace of mind to relax and enjoy your trip.

The American Express Platinum card, with its concierge service and an abundance of travel insurance, worldwide assistance, and more, tops our list. But you can’t go wrong traveling with any one of these four cards.

• American Express Platinum Card
• Starwood Preferred Guest Card
• Chase Sapphire
• Escape by Discover

The most noteworthy feature of this card is the stellar customer service. American Express treats their CardMembers as preferred customers, rather than simply numbers. Amex’ world-renowned concierge service goes hand-in-hand with the company’s customer service philosophy. This concierge service can help you make travel plans, buy gifts or make reservations at top restaurants and tourist attractions at your destination city.

The American Express Platinum also offers free entry into airport lounges across the world, a benefit few other travel cards outside the Amex family provide.

As with most cards in the American Express family, you get access to 24/7 travel services at more than 2,200 locations worldwide, 24/7 Global Assist hotline, 24/7 Roadside assistance, and rental car insurance. American Express travel insurance includes trip cancellation coverage, travel accident coverage, baggage coverage and trip delay coverage.

Don’t forget exclusive access to shows, events, and more, including discounts on tickets when you purchase them with the card.

If you want a card that will feel like a true travel partner on your trip, the American Express Platinum is the way to go.

Like many travel cards, the Starwood Preferred Guest card provides car rental loss and damage insurance; there’s no need to pay more for the car rental company’s collision damage waiver.

As an American Express rewards card the Starwood Preferred Guest credit card offers many travel benefits found with other Amex cards, including 2,200 Travel Services locations worldwide. The Global Assist 24/7 hotline offers medical, legal, financial, or other emergency assistance when you travel more than 100 miles from home, even overseas. Note that there may be a charge for services offered, but the Global Assist hotline will set you up with the professional services you need away from home.

You can get foreign currency or Travelers Checques delivered direct to your door — even delivered overnight for an additional charge.

You’ll also get $100,000 coverage in travel insurance.

When you’re planning your vacation, you’ll know you’ll have plenty to do, if you take advantage of the card’s exclusive access to shows, sporting events and more–often at discount prices.

Chase’s premier travel rewards card, Chase Sapphire, offers unlimited travel rewards that never expire and benefits that nearly rival the American Express Platinum. We say “nearly” because you won’t get concierge service or preferred seating at Broadway shows, but Chase offers its own program with access to unique travel opportunities and experiences. Some of the events listed on the website include the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen and the Daytona 500.

You’ll also get peace of mind knowing you’re protected on the road or in the air, with:

• Trip Cancellation Insurance for deaths in the immediate family, emergencies and illness ($1,500 for airline tickets only)
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver up to the cash value of the rental car
• Travel accident insurance ($500,000)
• Trip delay coverage ($1,500)
• Lost luggage coverage (up to $3,000)
• Baggage delay coverage (get reimbursed for the purchase of emergency items if your bags are delayed more than 18 hours) (values starting at $300)
• Travel and emergency services (free assistance coordinating legal, medical and travel services away from home)
• 24/7 Roadside Assistance

A note about Chase customer service: The amounts for travel insurance were not published and when I called the number to apply for the card, the representative did not have the information. She connected me to customer service where I was promptly disconnected after choosing the correct menu option. I called back the first number apply and the representative shared the amounts for the World class Sapphire MasterCard, the credit card listed on Chase’s website.

The Escape by Discover travel rewards card offers 2X miles and what the company advertises as “enhanced travel benefits.” This combination makes this card a winner for frequent fliers. Benefits include:

• Primary Car Rental Insurance up to $50,000 with no deductible
• Lost or damaged luggage insurance up to $2,500
• Travel delay insurance for food and lodging up to $150/day
• Trip cancellation insurance up to $2,500 in the event of illness

The BankAmericard Visa Fully Secured card charges an annual fee of $39 but no other fees. (Of course, penalty fees apply for late payments, etc.)

Additionally, the BankAmericard Visa Fully Secured Card lets you deposit between $300 and $10,000 as a security deposit, giving it a higher credit limit than many secured cards. If you don’t pay your balance in full each month, the interest rate is 18.24% variable — lower than the default penalty rate on most cards today.
After a year the bank automatically reviews your account for an upgrade to an unsecured card.

Overall, if you have $300 to deposit in an account and $39 to cover the annual fee, this is a fantastic credit card for anyone looking to re-build their credit. For students looking to establish credit, I’d recommend a student card like the Discover Student Card.

Overview: The Band Americard Visa Fully Secured card is a secured credit card, which means you deposit money into an account and then borrow against that money. You can pay your balance in full each month and pay no interest or you can choose to make just the minimum payment (or any amount over the minimum) and pay interest, just like a regular credit card.

How this card works: Deposit between $300 and $10,000 in the secured account, which you can then borrow against. Each month, you’ll receive statements, just like a regular credit card. You have 25 days to pay your balance in full and pay no interest. Otherwise, if you make the minimum payment or more, you’ll be charged 18.24% on the outstanding balance. You can also use the card for cash advances, direct deposits and other transactions up to your credit limit, just like a regular unsecured card.

Bank of America reports payments to all three credit bureaus, permitting you to build a credit history. After 12 months, Bank of America automatically reviews your account. If you’ve been making all your payments on time and are approved, the bank refunds your deposit and converts the card into a traditional, unsecured Bank of America Visa card.

Fees: This card carries a $39 annual fee, in addition to your security deposit. The card has a 24.24% variable interest rate for direct deposits, cash advances and overdraft protection.

Late payment and penalty fees are as follows:

• Balance $100 or less : $15 fee
• Balance more than $100, up to $250 : $29 fee
• Balance more than $250 : $39
• Returned payment fee: $35

Additionally, there is a 4% or $10 (whichever is greater) fee for balance transfers, cash advances, direct deposits and cash advances of all kinds.

Foreign transactions carry an additional fee of 3%, which means this is not the best card to use for international travel.

Benefits: This card, as a secured credit card, is slim in the benefits department. You do have the convenience of online banking and bill payment through the Bank of America website, including their 24//7 live chat support. I had a few questions while writing this review and the live chat support personnel, powered by LivePerson, answered my questions promptly and completely.
Additionally, you have the option to use your credit card for overdraft protection on your Bank of America checking account, and you’ll get Bank of America’s free Total Security Protection package to guard against theft and fraud on your account.

Pros:

• 25-day grace period on new purchases
• No additional fees for using the card for regular purchases
• Secured credit limit from $300 to $10,000, making it one of the more flexible secured credit cards
• Bank of America reviews your account after one year, and may convert it to an unsecured account
• Reports to all three credit bureaus, helping you establish credit
• 24/7 online customer service

Cons:

• 18.24 % interest rate if you carry a balance
• 24.24% APR on balance transfers and other transactions besides purchases
• $39 annual fee
• Very few added benefits
• No travel protection
• No warranty protection on purchases

A cash back debit card is very similar to a cash back credit card, offering a certain % cash back on all of the purchases you make. The reason that most debit cards have no rewards program is because they are fundamentally different than credit cards when used. Every time you use a credit card, the merchant has to pay your card company an interchange fee. The card company is then able to give a percentage of this fee back as part of a rewards program.

For debit card translations, merchants don’t pay an interchange fee and so the banks have no practical way to fund a rewards program.

In my quest for finding the best cash back debit card I’ve come across two cards that really stand out.

A few days ago I reviewed the Paypal Debit Card, which actually has a pretty impressive rewards program. With the PayPal Preferred Rewards Program you can earn 1% cash back on all online purchases, and purchases that you sign for in the store. Since Paypal only gives cash back on purchases that you “sign for” they are effectively getting around the interchange fee problem, by only offering cash back on purchases that include this fee. This is smart because it doesn’t effect you, although I’m sure merchants aren’t thrilled about the idea.

One of the best features of this card is that you can use your existing bank account to fund your Paypal account. By linking your existing bank account with your Paypal account money will automatically be transferred to your Paypal account whenever you use your card. This makes it easy to earn cash back without the hassle of managing another account.

The PerkStreet FinancialSM Visa® Debit Card essentially works the same way, offering 2% back on all non-pin transactions (purchases that you sign for, or select “credit” for.) for the first 6 months and then 1% after that. This card requires a PerkStreet Financial checking account. For those of you who are in the market for a new checking account, or just want to avoid Paypal – this might be a good option.

We recently covered some of the other great signup bonuses Perkstreet Financial is currently offering over at Bankshout.

I came to Japan in July of 2009 to teach English with the JET Program.

I had spent the previous year and a half reworking my finances to get them optimized and in a comfortable place for my liking.

In Chicago, I had 3 credit cards that I rotated purchases on to keep my credit score growing. I only used a small percentage of my allotted credit amount and paid them off in full every month.

I also used an ING savings account with sub accounts for my savings goals (savings, emergency, house down payment). I loved watching my interest grow from month to month.

Finally, I had my local bank which I used for the free checking and debit card.

All of my accounts had intuitive online interfaces with bill pay. I didn’t receive any paper statements and did all of my correspondence electronically.

Financial life was good.

I used my 3 credit cards or my debit card to make all of my purchases. I got so comfortable with plastic that I even went without money 80% of the time.

Then I moved to Japan.

And Japan loves cash.

And change.

And bank books. Yes. Bank books.

Prior to moving to Japan in ‘09, I had lived in Kyoto for 6 weeks in 2007. Most people struggle with culture shock when they move to a new country, but surprisingly adjusting to a new financial life was one of the hardest things I had to get used to when I moved 6,000 miles across the world.

I didn’t see that coming.

My financial life had revolved around the ease of plastic for years. Japan has credit cards, but they’re not prominent in my town – I’ve never seen anyone use them.

Constantly worrying about having cash is a bit of a hassle. I loved the ease of credit/debit cards. It didn’t matter where the ATM was or how much I had in my wallet.

Adjusting to cash has been more difficult than I imagined. I feel like I was thrown back in time 15 years, but it has become a little easier after seven months of living here.

My bank in Japan doesn’t have easy access to online sites so I’m left with a bank book to organize my finances. Think check register 10 years ago. The only way I can update the thing is to lug it to the ATM near the grocery store.

When I first arrived, I experienced online banking withdrawals from not being able to check my statements electronically. This may sound a little neurotic – and it is. I love online banking.

I also lost the fun ING interest-watching game. In Japan I have a post office account for savings, but it gets no interest so not being able to track my progress was a little depressing.

Japanese coins are like quick sand. No matter how hard you try to get away, it just keeps sucking you back in.

You can never sort through the coins because there are always ridiculous amounts of them in your pockets, car, bedside table, or desk. You name it, there’s probably some coins there right now.

My girlfriend and I share a communal box for food expenses. The 1 yen coins are taking over the box and I’m worried that by the end of our stay in Japan I’ll need a shovel to dig them out.

When people experience culture shock it’s the result of comparing some aspect of your life in a new country to your former home life.

I had culture shock because my simple financial life had disappeared.

It sounds lame, but it’s true.

The way I had worked for 22 years was turned on its head and I was stuck having to learn new customs – it’s just instead of a tea ceremony, I was learning how to use an ATM with Japanese characters.

I’m not complaining that I miss American life. I have a great job, a paycheck, subsidized housing.

Japan’s been great to me.

It’s just that some people get thrown off by the language, the food, or the customs.

I got thrown off my a bank book and too much change in my pockets.

Don’t forget to check out Foreigner’s Finances!

From a psychological standpoint, Mint strives to motivate individuals to pay off their debt faster and learn to live their best financial life. Unfortunately, email reminders are obvious at best, disheartening at worst. For instance, one notice states: “You paid $8.74 in finance charges this month. You should pay off this balance to avoid finance charges.” If I could pay off my balance, don’t you think I would?

I’d much rather see motivational statements like, “Congratulations! Your overall debt decreased by $300 this month.”  It’s Psych 101 that people respond better to praise than reprimands – even when it comes from computer programs.

In my first month of using the program, I found the service intuitive to use and easy to set up. Unfortunately, there are a few technical issues that keep the service from living up to its promise and potential. A perusal of the Mint.com forums indicates I’m not the only one with these issues, either.

I have my Mint.com account linked to my Chase checking account and Chase credit cards. When I have a payment due, Mint.com notifies me via email. For two months straight, it has listed my “account balance” on my credit card as the “minimum payment due” – which it is not. I called the Mint.com reps on Thursday about that and I’m waiting for an answer.

Additionally, Mint.com doesn’t seem to register that I paid the credit card before the due date, so it notifies me I have a payment due when I paid it two weeks prior. To be fair, my other online credit accounts do the same thing; they send out automatic reminders a few days before the due date, regardless of whether or not you’ve already made a payment for that billing cycle.

This is, at the moment, the least of Mint’s problems when it interfaces with Chase; users have not seen an account update for approximately 2 weeks. According to a system alert on the site, Mint.com is aware of the problem and working to fix it. This technical problem, particularly if it crops up with other major banks, is a glitch that may prevent people from relying on Mint.com 100 % for all their financial record-keeping.

Mint.com lets you set budgets for various living expenses, including groceries, restaurants, alcohol, entertaining, auto, etc. When I made a purchase through BJ’s Warehouse Club using my debit card, Mint.com filed it as groceries. I purchased contact lenses  last week at BJ’s, so I received notification that I completely blew my groceries budget for the month, when, in fact, the money went toward a one-time health expense.

With superstores like Wal-mart and Target selling everything from groceries to flat screen TVs, it’s nearly impossible to track your “grocery” budget through Mint.com if you shop at these stores. The problem could be solved if we could manually enter expenses, or edit categories once Mint.com automatically logs expenditures.

Nearly a year ago, a Mint.com forum participant posted a question about manually tracking income and expenses. Last month, a Mint.com employee mentioned that it is in the works. I’m looking forward to seeing this feature because, until that time, Mint.com’s best use is for tracking credit card payments and total debt.

Mint.com posts notices when your credit card account draws close to its limit or when you’re checking account balance gets low. This service is extremely useful for anyone who tends to get distracted about their finances.

By permitting users to set a budget for monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and one-time expenses (like those contact lenses that took me by surprise this month!) Mint.com really does have the potential to let people get a better handle on their finances. Previously, I had no idea how much money I actually spent in a month. I had a budget to let me know how much I should be spending, but I never did a good job of tracking my actual spending.

After one month of using Mint.com, I definitely have a better idea of where my money goes. My personal banking isn’t that complex that I can’t look at my $600+ “grocery” bill for the month and know, logically, that the bill actually paid for my 20/10 vision. Likewise, when I see I’m under-budget by a significant amount, I know Mint.com hasn’t accounted for the cash I gave to my husband for half the mortgage payment.

I stand by my assessment that Mint.com is a handy (and free) financial planning tool, but, until they get a few bugs worked out and perfect the program, I’d recommend a back-up system, such as online banking through your bank’s website.