Hello everyone! It's a new year, and we are ready to offer you some fun new content.

One of the things that has been buzzing around here is talk about all the options you have nowadays when it comes to being conscious about finance.

Once upon a time, it was the old fashioned pencil and paper. Then we added the ledger and calculator,  then computer accounting software, which led to programs like Quicken, Quickbooks, and others.

So what's new and available for you out there and why would you want to look into it?

The new wave of financial tracking options has to do with online availability.

Quicken now provides Quicken online and, as we talked about on the blog before, Quicken will be acquiring the other big online option, Mint.com

So... the big question is, what do I need to know about Mint, and how is it different than other options. (In other words, is this or isn't this an option that could be useful for me?)

As we all know, finances are personal. So, it makes sense that the way we manage them would be as well.

Up until this point, Quicken and QuickBooks have been the best options for Conscious Bookkeeping to use to help people plan their finances and track spending and goals. Now, we are thinking there might be some interest in expanding the options and methods available to you. Very exciting!

If you're happy with Quicken and feel totally satisfied with it, no need to keep reading. But, if you're looking for a different flavor of management... read on.

I like to compare the emergence of Mint with that of Photoshop. When Photoshop was created, it was meant to mimic an actuall wet darkroom- the kind with the stinky chemicals. That was how people were trained, and the layout, concepts and features would make sense to someone who shot with film and who wanted to add the advantages of digital into his or her arsenal. Smart, right?

Well, cut to years later, when many people who are pro photographers never set foot in a wet darkroom. Photoshop can feel a little confusing to them, since their thought process was digital from the beginning. Enter new programming that is sometimes simpler and serves them and their needs.

What does this have to do with finances?

Quicken and Quickbooks are like the original PhotoShop: they mimic classic accounting and bookkeeping language and orientation. Someone who likes a classic bookkeeping system will love this.

However, for those of us who are more visual, a little shaky on financial terminology, or looking to emphasize the spending plan angle of a budget, we might like a more stripped down and tech-oriented approach: enter mint.com, where we get emails when we go over budget in categories we plan with. Enter color-coded pie charts to let us look at our spending from a visual approach.

We'd like to offer services and training that help everyone who wants to be conscious in their bookkeeping. Please let us know in the comments what kind of system you are inspired by and what needs you have. We'd love to hear from you and hope this clarification was helpful for those of you who hear about Mint.

Happy New Year! Let's all keep consciousness going with our money and make 2010 a great one to manifest goals.