Patent ID: 7895096

Claim:
A method to help a user save money for a future purchase, comprising: obtaining, using a processor of a mobile computing device, historical spending data from the user; organizing, using the processor, historical spending data into a plurality of spending categories; obtaining, using the processor, a selection of a first spending category from the user, wherein the first spending category is selected from the plurality of spending categories, and wherein the user elects to forgo spending money on purchases associated with the first spending category; obtaining, using the processor, a target savings amount from the user, wherein the target savings amount is how much money the user wants to save for the future purchase; sending, using the processor, a prompt to the user to obtain current spending data associated with the first spending category; obtaining, using the processor, current spending data from the user in response to the prompt; determining, using the processor, an actual savings amount in the first spending category based on current spending data; and generating, using the processor, a first notification for the user related to saving money for the future purchase.