Most of us have at least four accounts (savings, checking, a joint account, and PayPal, for instance). Researchers at the University of Utah found that when funds flowed in and out of just one place, the study's spenders found it
easier keep track of their bottom-line net worth. The result: They spent
10 percent less of their money.
Bonus: The next best thing to having a single account is an all-on-one-page overview. For this, check out
Mint.com, an app that aggregates all your financial information (daily) and displays it in a colorful interface—helping you track spending patterns. Extra bonus: It's free.
