Abstract: Graphical user interfaces or visual representations of budgets and related systems and methods for visually presenting a budget and how consumer spending adheres to the budget. Budget elements or panels relate to budget categories, and respective sizes of budget elements indicate respective portions of income allocated to corresponding budget categories. Income amounts or desired savings amounts can be adjusted, in response to which sizes of the selected budget and savings elements are changed. After establishing a budget, the consumer purchases items. Corresponding budget elements are filled to indicate respective allocated amounts of income spent on respective budget elements by the consumer. An empty budget element indicates no money has been spent, a partially filled budget element indicates that some of the allocated income was spent, and a completely filled budget element indicates that all of the allocated income was spent. Overspending may be indicated by emphasizing the budget element.

Abstract: Controlling access to customer data. A customer service agent is provided with indirect access to customer data through an intermediate computer such that it is not necessary for the customer service agent to ask questions about the received customer data or receive such data from the customer directly. Secure data access can be used to validate customers and streamline customer interaction and discussions with customer service agents since many questions a customer service agent may ask a customer directly during a discussion are already answered and known to the customer service agent before the customer speaks with the customer service agent. The customer can select which merchants receive customer data, and customer data can be entered manually or acquired by processing images of customer documents or cards such as personal identification or account cards containing information to be used during customer service discussions.

Abstract: Controlling access to customer data. A customer service agent is provided with indirect access to customer data through an intermediate computer such that it is not necessary for the customer service agent to ask questions about the received customer data or receive such data from the customer directly. Secure data access can be used to validate customers and streamline customer interaction and discussions with customer service agents since many questions a customer service agent may ask a customer directly during a discussion are already answered and known to the customer service agent before the customer speaks with the customer service agent. The customer can select which merchants receive customer data, and customer data can be entered manually or acquired by processing images of customer documents or cards such as personal identification or account cards containing information to be used during customer service discussions.