The giveaway is now closed! Check here for the winner.
I told you that today, I’d tell you about what tool I use for our family budgeting, and that I’d give you a chance to win it. I did not lie.
Photo by Dayna Bateman
It seems rather nerdy to get excited about a budgeting program, but then again, I’ve never run across anything like Pear Budget before. I used Quicken for a long time, mostly because it was what I had – it came free on our MacBook. But it started driving me bonkers, mostly because it was confusing to use (and I consider myself more or less computer savvy). There were just silly things I didn’t need to mess with when it came to managing every day family finances. Plus, it kept unexpectedly freezing on me.
I first heard of Pear Budget from a few personal finance blogs I really admire, such as Get Rich Slowly. It didn’t really sound like anything different or spectacular, but people kept recommending it, so I decided to check it out.
What I noticed first was the interface. It’s gorgeous. It’s clutter-free, it’s streamlined, and it’s easy on the eyes. That may sound surfacey, but to me, it adds enjoyment to budgeting. A good aesthetic doesn’t make a budget tool suddenly something I can’t live without – but it’s hard to find, so I appreciate it when it’s there.
The great thing about Pear Budget, however, is that it’s elegant interface echoes its simplicity. It really is so easy to use. You simply set up your budget in about 15 minutes, and you’re good to go. Head over there for a minute, read their initial home page, and head back over here. You’ll see what I mean.
Other things I like about Pear Budget:
- It’s completely based on a zero-based budget.
- You can fully customize your tags – there’s none of the pre-entered kind.
- It’s quick and powerful – because it doesn’t do anything but budgeting, it takes mere seconds to load.
- It beautifully handles both my regular, monthly expenses and my irregular expenses that show up only several times a year.
- It uses the classic envelope system – you fill in a category’s amount, and it depletes the total as its spent.
- They’ve got a blog that regularly answers questions and provides a place to contribute your thoughts (love that!).
Charlie and Sarah Park and their three preschool-aged girls are the family behind Pear Budget. About five years ago, they created a spreadsheet to help track their spending, and mostly for fun, they posted it online. After it was downloaded over 100,000 times, they decided to turn it into the web-based application we now see.
The Parks are a work-at-home mom and dad, and they get how busy parents are. They know what it’s like to manage a home. And they personally relate to staring in cloudy confusion at budget software that just doesn’t work for them. They know that when you only have 15 minutes of computer time every couple hours, you’re not going to want to spend it trying to understand how to work a tool. You just want to update your budget, see the results clearly, and move on.
Pear Budget completely aligns with my home management philosophy, so Simple Mom enthusiastically recommends them as an ideal budgeting tool.
I’m happy to say that Pear Budget is only $3 a month – that’s $36 a year, which is really affordable. But I’m even happier to say that one of you will win a lifetime subscription to Pear Budget! That’s years of lightweight budgeting ahead of you.
In order to win, simply enter a comment in this post! In your comment, please tell me your best cheap date idea. To enter a second time, subscribe to Simple Mom’s feed by either RSS or by email, and email me the secret code you see at the bottom of all the posts (see here if you want further explanation). You don’t have to be a new subscriber to get a second entry – just email me the code! To get a third entry, post about this giveaway on your blog, and let me know about it.
That’s it! This is obviously open to worldwide readers, since there’s no shipping involved. And you don’t need a blog to enter, but you need to make sure you provide a valid email address with your entry.
This contest will be open until Wednesday, June 25 at midnight Pacific Standard Time.
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My husband and I’s last couple of dates have been taking scrap metal back to the scrapyard. Not romantic, I know, but we get enough money to fill up the truck with gas and get Subway, then we go sit at the park/beach and eat it together (while the kids visit with Grandma for a bit.)
our favorite cheap date is the $5.00 date. we go get a redbox movie for $1.07 (with tax) then head to the grocery store and spend the rest of our money on movie treats. then, once our son is down for the night, we start the movie and enjoy our treats!
Our frequent cheap date is making some popcorn and snacks and heading to the basement to curl up in front of our computer to catch up on our tv shows we’ve missed during the week. In most cases we are catching up on entire seasons. It is fun to watch a couple episodes back to back once our son is snoozing.
During the summer there are free concerts in the park in our town. The park just happens to be across the street, so whether the music is good or not we get to listen out on our front porch. It makes for a nice relaxing evening.
darcy
Darcys last blog post..Funny Headlines
cheap date……drop the kids off at parents house (free babysitting) hit the local costco to window shop, eat their cheap food, pizza, hot dog, soda pop then splurdge a bit and go to a wine bar or nice pub and have a glass of wine or a pint of beer with the man of your dreams, assumably your husband!
One of our favorite things to do is to curl up on the couch to watch a baseball or basketball game, a movie, or program we both enjoy. If you don’t count the cable costs or DVD rental, this can be really cost-neutral…especially with a redbox code!
NH Mom of 3s last blog post..Menu Planning Monday — 6.23.08
mcdonalds and renting videos
Our cheap date is dinner at a restaurant with a coupon and then a trip to the bookstore. After browsing, we usually get coffee and share dessert.
Well a “cheap date” is relative. I say a minor league baseball game for two is a good “cheap date”
We like picnics in. We already own the picnic basket and food. All we have to do is put the kids to bed, throw on some music, put down a blanket, light a candle, and eat. Everything is what we already have so it’s a cheap date for sure
We take the kids to Ikea that has free one hour childcare and sit on a sofa and talk or eat at the inexpensive cafe. FUN!
Ginas last blog post..Works for Me Wednesday
For a cheap date, I fix the kids a meal they desire, get them bathed and into bed. Then DH and I eat a dinner I have prepared and then either play scrabble or watch a DVD from the library.
Cheap date? A few shots of tequila! ha! No, seriously… We head to the library for free movie rentals, buy food that we can make together without too many kitchen fights then plop down to eat and see a show.
Please enter me! I really need a budgeting tool that I can actually understand how to use and this seems like it. Cheap date … after the kids are put to bed, turn off everything electronic — pretend the electricity is out — light some candles and head to the porch for an incredibly relaxing, quiet time talking together. The real feel of solitude without all that electric humming in the background invites real intimacy.
I like this because I have three children too and we struggle with keeping track of our budget as income changes every two weeks and bills due changes too…
oh um a cheap date with three kids would be to take a walk at night and look at the stars, and then drive around and talk after they fall asleep on the way home.
I always tell my husband that the best cheap date is going to the theatre getting the popcorn and heading home to watch movies. It feels like your at the movies, but it is more relaxing at home. I embarass my husband with this, but he loves me and will go get the popcorn!
We pick our food from the garden and cook it outside ,then take a walk. Quite and enjoying each other
Our cheap date is watching a movie at home. Of course pjs, popcorn and cuddling are usually included.
Jenns last blog post..Contest at simplemom
My husband and I love to cook something yummy at home and we used to really enjoy making good use of our annual zoo pass (when we lived in the city). Now that we live out in the boonies, we love to sit around the campfire on our land, talk and watch the embers. Too fun–and you can’t get much cheaper than hotdogs on the the fire for dinner!
The software looks awesome btw, and boy could we use it!
Erins last blog post..Exhausting!
My favorite cheap date is going to local high school band concert (especially jazz). Live music is always fun and I am supporting the schools.
Our idea of a cheap date would be to drop the kiddos off at grandma’s (free) then drive around and maybe walk around walmart without making a purchase, just talking about life. Ha I know we’re so exciting. But it’s free!
Favorite cheap date is $1 movie! Those are the best!
brandiandboyss last blog post..I Want To Know!
The cheapest date? I hike in the woods and a picnic!
Hmm – cheap date ideas: go out for ice cream – even better if you can take it somewhere nice and sit for a while, netflix movie night – young kids are in bed and the older ones have to stay out of the living room, go for a walk.
One thing my hubby and I have started doing is meeting on our bed right when he gets home. The kids have to stay out of the room while we spend a few minutes sharing our days.
It’s a mini date. 
Audra Maries last blog post..My Tweets for 2008-06-24
We often cook a nice dinner at home and then go out to a movie. We save in that way or vice versa…
Caryn Bs last blog post..Safe and Secure with Schlage
I want this! What a brilliant yet simple idea. It’s fantastic!
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