Tell Your Financial Horror Story, Win $5,000

The newest advancement in the personal finance world is offering anyone willing to share their holiday spending story the chance to have their credit cards paid off.

Web-based company Mint allows members to enter all of their credit card and banking information and then automatically tracks spending, finds savings and helps with budgeting.

In the wake of the holiday season and the spending that goes along with it, the personal-finance company is holding Holiday Spending Hangover Cure, a contest for anyone with a spending horror story to share. Those looking to participate can enter their unique stories through video or text directly to Mint.com. The winning video entrant and the winning writer will each have the balance, up to $5,000, on their credit cards paid off, and will receive financial counseling so they do not make the same money mistakes again.

"Personal finance is not something that people talk about often. People have financial blunders, and the idea behind the contest is that you can learn from other people's mistakes," said Mint founder and CEO Aaron Patzer. ...