Ben Barlowe
Education Content Writer at YNAB
Ben Barlowe is a personal finance educator, public voice, and writer for YNAB. Ben is one-half of the dynamic duo behind Budget Nerds, a bi-weekly podcast he hosts with fellow YNAB educator Ernie Reppe. Ben also regularly hosts live chats on YNAB’s instagram page and presents YNAB’s habit-building method wherever he can! You’ll also find Ben fluttering around all the many active YNAB communities across the internet.
Ben started using YNAB in 2013 and joined the team in 2016 as a workshop teacher. Since then, he has become a jack-of-all-trades, doing a little bit of everything for the YNAB team, always with a focus on education. Ben lives in Lynchburg, Virginia with his wife, four kids, and giant great dane puppy. When not teaching people about YNAB, Ben loves playing poker, D&D, and board games with his friends. He also loves hiking, swimming, and trying not to break his arm on his Onewheel.
Featured Articles
There’s No Such Thing as Saving Money
The number one rule of personal finance: you have to save money. Why? What if I told you there is no such thing as saving money?
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Unexpected Expenses
How some preparation and a small change in your mindset can help you love how you spend your money, even for unexpected emergencies.
How We Paid Off Our Mortgage in 6 Years (and Why!)
Gather around for a story about how Ben paid off his mortgage in six years and how he plans on using that freed-up cash flow to help others.
All articles by
Ben
How to Free Yourself from Money Dysmorphia
Money dysmorphia is a financial fog that is plaguing the masses! The YNAB Method can help you dispel the fear, face reality, and discover what you want most out of life.
4 Reasons Why You Really Ought to Keep the Change
Transaction rounding apps and services promise to help you save by removing you from the process. But does that really lead to long-term life change?
5 Ways to Get YNAB for Free
Did you know there are a bunch of ways to get YNAB for free? See if one of these five ways applies to you!
Where is the Money Going to Come From?
What if you could answer the question, “Where is the money going to come from?” every single time? The YNAB Method will show you how!
20 Fun Ways to Name Your YNAB
Did you know you can name your YNAB spending plan anything you want? Here are some fun ideas for naming your budget from the community.
Managing Allowance: Moving from Cash to Categories
Ben B. has tried everything to manage his kids' allowances—conversations, coin jars, cash envelopes, and trusty software. Read on to learn what worked and what didn't.
Master Your Monthly Rollovers
Let’s demystify the ol’ monthly rollover! Ben B. breaks down what stays the same, what changes, and what you need to do to keep rolling smoothly into the new month.
Do I Have to Give EVERY Dollar a Job?
Rule One of the YNAB Method is Give Every Dollar a Job. Let’s uncover how to allocate your money all the way to zero, and the rewards you’ll receive when you do!
How Does it Feel to Get A Month Ahead?
Habit Four of the YNAB Method is all about getting a month ahead on your finances. Hear from real YNABers about how it feels to achieve this big financial goal!
How to Use YNAB’s Targets
Slice and dice your spending targets every which way with YNAB Targets! Set weekly, monthly, yearly targets, and more!
When Human Math Beats Real Math
Sometimes, the mathematically right choice is actually the wrong choice. Personal finance is personal, and we often should make financial decisions based on more than math.
Financial Freedom, Generosity, and the Power of YNAB: Eric’s Story
This is the story of how Eric A. used YNAB to donate a staggering 60% of their income in the first half of 2023 and found lasting peace and contentment along the way.