There's really only one application that does this really well, and that is org-mode for emacs. It is incredibly powerful (the usual answer to "can you do...?" is yes. I'm not joking - I use it for everything from a writing and publishing app, simple spreadsheets, capturing notes as well as organising my life) and flexible, and you can basically customise it to your own needs. It even integrates with both Android and the iPhone through a couple of apps.

The downside is that its in Emacs, so the investment of time and energy is considerable.

I've been very pleasantly surprised by http://www.geteasypeasy.com/ for the Asus EEE. Can't imagine making the switch from Windows, as I have too much invested in it, but Linux makes for a very nice netbook.

<i>Just for example, using a "payday loan" is something poor people do. But do they do it because they're poor? Or are they poor because they make unwise financial decisions such as using a "payday loan" to buy things before they have the money?</i>

a) Its different when you have kids.
b) "By buying things before they have the money" - you're talking about stuff like getting the car you need to commute to your job repaired (can that wait?). Paying doctors bills. Paying for the emergency plumber. New school clothes. An unexpectedly large fuel bill. Poor people have no contingency funds for emergencies, or anything out of the ordinary.