How does piggymojo help me save?

Piggymojo helps you save by helping you spend less. It's designed to help you fend off the temptation to spend on things you could probably do without. The idea is to make saving it more gratifying than spending it. We think the piggymojo method does just that.

This is how it works: when you sign up you'll declare a goal, how much you want to save, and by when. While you’re out, instead of giving in to an impulse buy make an impulse save. Take out your cell phone and text piggymojo the name and dollar amount of the thing you are not buying. Like $6 for a piece of pie. That 6 bucks counts towards your  goal. Good save!

And it doesn't stop there! Let's say you're saving with your husband. When we receive your savings text message we forward it to him so he knows instantly that you passed something up for the sake of your common goal. This way he'll know you really care about the goal and secondly, it just might affect his thought process when he is tempted to spend on something he could do without.    Each save creates momentum.

What will my personal page look like?

It's jam-packed with features that help and encourage you as you save. Click here to see an example.

Does piggymojo cost anything? (No! It's free!)

Sign up and go for it! It only takes 3 minutes to sign up! Start now and get there sooner.

So piggymojo tracks my savings, but what counts as a "savings"?

There are two main things:

1)  When you walk away from something you're tempted to buy, but don't,  that's a savings!
Sample text message: pgmojo $5 mocha latte.

2)  If you're looking at a pair of shoes that cost $80 but you find a different pair of similar quality and comfort for $60, that's a savings of $20.  That counts!  Sample text message: pgmojo $20 cheaper shoes.

If you've just passed on something that costs $50, you don't have to commit the whole amount to your goal.  Instead, text in whatever portion you feel comfortable with. If you were just kind of into it, then maybe only commit $10.  If you used all your willpower to walk away from it, then text in the whole $50.

Do I give piggymojo any of my financial info?  When I text in my savings does my money actually get transferred?

No and No.  We don't ask you for any of your personal banking information, and you transfer your own money to your own savings account.   We suggest you open an online savings account.   At the end of each week we make it easy for you to deposit your weekly savings into that account.  Once it's there it's safe from being spent, shall we say, "accidentally".

Is piggymojo for big goals, like my retirement, or small goals, like a bicycle?

It works for both but in different ways.  For something big like retirement, we recommend doing an intense 4 -6 month "retirement blitz." Then your next goal could be for something that takes less time and is less expensive, like a bicycle.  It helps to mix it up and to save at different intensities at different times.

Can I upload an image of my own to represent my goal instead of picking one from your library?

Absolutely!  In fact, we hope you'll upload your own photo!  The better you can visualize your goal, the easier it will be to achieve it.

I'm a pretty good saver but my husband really isn't.  Is this going to work for us?

This system is designed for couples just like you and your husband.  Start with a small, short-term goal for something you're both really into (him especially), and watch what happens.  Once you've reached your goal and celebrated, you can pick a longer-term, more substantial goal.

What is a cheering section?

Your cheering section is made up of people you invite to cheer you on as you save for your goal. Research shows that making your goal public and involving friends and family will help you reach your goal (think of hearing your name yelled out during the race as you run past your family/friends in the crowd). When you give us their email addresses they become part of your cheering section and can view your member home page. They can see your various graphs and post cheers to your message board.

How do friends use piggymojo to save together but for different goals?

You can set up your account so that whenever you send a savings text to piggymojo it will be forwarded to your friend. And your friend can set up her account so you receive her savings texts. This way you'll each get one another's savings texts and saving money won't feel so lonely and boring. Sign up separately and each choose a "Subscription for one person." On the "Add/Edit goal" page you can each enter the other's name, email and twitter user name under "Savings Partner".

Does piggymojo work if I want to save by myself?

Of course.  It still offers the same convenient way of tracking your savings and keeping you focused on your goal.  The only thing you'll miss out on is receiving someone else's savings text messages and the pleasure of knowing they receive yours when you save something.

Is my profile private or public?

Your information and your member page are private. Only the people you invite to be in your cheering section can see your member page.

If I'm using twitter, how do I tweet my savings?

Two things are necessary:

1. You must follow piggymojo on twitter.

2. Format your tweets like this:

• d piggymojo 6 dessert

Here are some other examples:

• d piggymojo 12.50 lunch out
• d piggymojo 16 cheaper sweater
• d piggymojo 4 taxi

 

The "d" stands for "direct message", so your savings tweets will be sent only to piggymojo and your savings partner, if you have one, not to all of your followers. If you want to share your savings with others, invite them to join your piggymojo cheering section.

If your phone isn't set up yet to use twitter, go to your twitter home page, select "Settings" and then "Mobile".

How do I text in my savings if I'm not using twitter?

Format your savings texts like this: piggymojo 6 dessert.

Here are some other examples:

• piggymojo 12.50 lunch out
• piggymojo 16 cheaper sweater
• piggymojo 4 taxi

In the US, text your savings to piggymojo at 30644.

At present, Canadians can only send savings texts to piggymojo through twitter. Signing up for twitter is really fast and easy. Go to twitter.com to get started.

How is piggymojo different from other web based savings sites?

Piggymojo is an actual step by step method to help you save money.  Other sites show you what you've been spending your money on, and help you make a budget. That's valuable information, but it doesn't actually help you save on the spot when you're out and about doing your thing.   Piggymojo gives you a concrete way to save at the moment and reinforces your decision with numerous sources of positive feedback. With piggymojo, you know exactly what to do when you're tempted to buy something you could do without!  And it'll get easier each time.

I have some questions about changing my goal settings.  I'm already a member.

Click on the help tab of your member page for help using piggymojo.