There are a number of high tech companies seeking to save consumers from themselves by helping them curb overspending. Some of the ideas are quite novel, and if you’re tempted by a big luscious ad or you’re someone with a gift list as long as War and Peace, check out these clever shopping restraints. (Just remember they want you to buy, too.)

Take Facecard. It’s an alternative to debit and credit cards and one that helps anyone who wants to manage their finances. Like other prepaid credit cards, you can only spend the amount that’s on the card. No overspending or overdrafting. Where Facecard gets interesting is with its prewards program-–sort of a virtual coupon. You’ll get discounts at participating merchandisers but you won’t need to rifle through your handbag only to find your expired paper coupon: The benefits of coupon shopping with the protection of a finite shopping limit. Plus, there are some monitoring controls (no shopping at a certain store for instance) to help parents keep a handle on young consumers. Available for free until September (with a nominal fee plus minimum balance in your account after September), the Facecard is accepted everywhere that MasterCard is. 

Or look at SmartyPig. SmartyPig is sort of a virtual lay-away plan with a social networking twist. You tell the site what you’re saving for–whether it’s a vacation, a new TV, or even a college education. They’ll tell you how much you need to put away per month and for how long.

As you put away the suggested money in their online FDIC-backed bank, they pay 2.75% interest (as long as you keep $10 in the account) on your account (and provided you put at least $10 in your account each month). Then you get a SmartyPig widget to put on your Facebook or other page letting your friends and family know what you’re saving for. They can donate to your cause or just offer moral support.

Group gifting will be the rage this season. Best Buy is putting the final touches on their new Wish List site where friends and family can help you make a purchase. Bing, Microsoft’s new search engine, has a powerful shopping area called CashBack, where companies give you a rebate (essentially the money they would have spent on marketing) for products that within their universe of merchants.

Those who want to be able to bank as they shop should check out Firethorn–one of the most robust mobile banking systems I’ve seen (though fire and thorn are not my favorite shopping words). They too, offer discounts and offerings for mobile commerce shopper.

These sites, harbingers of things to come, each make shopping fun and a tad safer. Just remember, overspending is soooo yesterday.