Mint.com

Every hero needs a sidekick to help him along on his righteous quest.

Batman has Robin. Fred had Barney. Howard has Fred (and Robin). Bart has Milhouse. The Lone Ranger had Tonto.

Watson sticks by Holmes, Spock saves Kirk, Donkey follows Shrek. The list is endless.

Without the sidekick, the hero often times finds himself stuck in the mud or wandering around aimlessly.

In my quest to save twenty thousand dollars over the course of a two year period, I too need a sidekick to keep me focused and in line.

My sidekick is Mint.com.

Mint.com is perfect for me. It helps me keep track of my progress towards saving the $20,000. The goal feature allows you to attach savings or investment accounts, and maps out a plan of attack to help you reach your goal. You can set up a goal to help save for retirement, buy a house, a car, or to put a little something away for a rainy day or emergency fund. 

Mint.com offers a lot more than goal setting. Once you safely and securely add bank, investment, loan, and credit card accounts, Mint will analyse your "portfolio" and offer up suggestions.

If Mint sees that your bank's savings account is offering up a pitance for an interest rate, it will suggest that you look into a high interest savings account run by Ally, Orange, or Capital One.

Mint takes a look at your investments and offers up alternatives if it thinks you're being charged too much in fees. Mint also offers up alternative investment choices like "Betterment".

Mint helps you track and organize spending patterns. If Mint sees that you spend a lot of money on a certain purchase (gas, dining, groceries) it will suggest credit cards that are geared toward earning cash back or points based on those purchases. 

Mint can send you an email when your bank accounts have a low balance, which is handy if your bank isn't mobile app ready yet.

Mint also helps you find a quote for auto or life insurance, helps you set up an IRA, and can even get your Home Loan rates if you're looking for a mortgage.

Mint.com is the perfect companion for me in my quest to reach $20,000.