Kendagriff, LLC announced today the launch of Banzai™, a web application based on The Banzai Way™, a personal finance philosophy which emphasizes individual responsibility for spending decisions. In an uncertain economic environment, Banzai offers users an affordable, web-based system to control their spending and get out of debt, aided by the personal assistance of a Banzai Coach.
Banzai's co-creator, Morgan Vandagriff, a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, spent 6 years developing The Banzai Way. "Our approach is based on the principle of personal responsibility. The system is designed to give users the flexibility they crave while maintaining the discipline they so desperately need," says Vandagriff.
Vandagriff's philosophy is simple, with roots that can be traced to his childhood. "When I was young, I saved my money in glass jars. Each jar was labeled with a purpose---'Candy,' 'Comic Books,' etc. When one jar was empty, I had to decide whether to take money from another jar to buy what I wanted. This simple method was easy to use because my money was all in one place and I could always see how much I had. Being forced to make trade-offs or do without encouraged personal responsibility. Our online system uses the same principle. We've created jars for grownups."
Banzai uses this jars paradigm to focus users' attention on the spending flexibility they have now and the impact their decisions will have on the future. The system uses jar balances to show users how much they can spend at any time for a given purpose. If spending from one jar exceeds the balance available, users must identify a trade-off they are willing to make elsewhere. This practice helps them achieve their goals while making accommodations for the unpredictability of real life.
Upon sign-up, each user is assigned a Banzai Coach, whose role is to help new users apply The Banzai Way to their own lives. One coach, Kendall Buchanan, observes, "As I work with individuals new to Banzai, I am always surprised to see the unique benefits it offers to users regardless of their circumstances. Each user gets something different out of the system."
Banzai users report success in making lasting changes to their spending behavior. "In the past, I tried other personal finance programs but none of them helped me understand the impact my daily decisions have upon my financial health the way Banzai does," says J.B. Haglund of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. "Banzai is strong medicine for spending problems," says Vandagriff, "but a few minutes a day is all it takes to bring your finances under control."
Banzai's online services (including access to a Banzai Coach) are available now at a price of $1.00 for the first month and $4.95 per month thereafter. To learn more about The Banzai Way, please visit www.banzaiway.com.
About Kendagriff, LLC
Kendagriff, LLC developed The Banzai Way philosophy of personal financial management and Banzai, the associated web application. The creators recognized that traditional personal finance systems place too much emphasis on analysis of past spending behavior as a means of motivating users to make responsible financial decisions. The Banzai Way, by contrast, was designed to help individuals and families control spending and get out of debt by demonstrating the impact of individual decisions upon financial health. The philosophy focuses users' attention on the decisions which matter most: those they are about to make.
Though the company got its start in Philadelphia, Kendagriff, LLC is now based in Provo, Utah with data operations in Salt Lake City.
Banzai Personal Finance Web Application - Homepage
Banzai Personal Finance Web Application - Tour
Banzai Personal Finance Web Application - What are Jars?
Banzai Personal Finance Web Application - "Are You a Financial Ninja?" Quiz