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Jesse Mecham

YNAB Founder

Jesse Mecham is a personal finance expert, speaker, business leader, and the Founder of You Need A Budget (or YNAB if you are very busy and important). Jesse hosts The Jesse Mecham Show, and is the Wall Street Journal best-selling author of book You Need A Budget. (He’s nothing if not consistent!) A self-proclaimed “recovering CPA,” he is deeply passionate about teaching individuals, families, and business owners the YNAB Method so they can gain total control of their money. 

Jesse first developed the YNAB method as a broke, newly married college student who really needed a budget. In an attempt to make an additional $300/month to cover rent, he sold his budgeting spreadsheet online and YNAB was born. Since 2004, the software has grown into a leading personal finance platform and has helped hundreds of thousands of people break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle, get out of debt, and save more money. Now, YNAB has a growing team living and working all around the world, and has built a thriving remote culture that earned recognition as Fortune’s #1 best small company to work for (YNAB was doing remote work before it was cool!). When not teaching people how to budget, Jesse loves gardening, woodworking, marksmanship, and travel. He also spends a good bit of time with his wife and the seven small people that live in their house.

Featured Articles

Living Within Your Means

It seems like the golden rule of personal finance is to "live within your means." This seems simple enough, so why don't more people do it?

All articles by

Jesse

Saving Money Saves Money

You know you need an emergency fund, but you aren't quite sure if it's "nice to have" or "need to have." Spoiler alert: it's a need.

How to Manage Money With Variable Income

Are you a freelancer, work in commission sales, a contractor, small business owner, or gig worker? Here's how to budget with variable income.

Deep Thoughts: Deep Work Summary

A Deep Work summary as it relates to budgeting. Find greater success by learning to avoid distractions and master focused concentration.

You Need A Money Management Tool for Your Business

YNAB helps the risk-avoider take calculated risks and helps the risk-taker be more calculating. Learn how to use YNAB for your small business.

Can I Trust YNAB?

Does YNAB share your data? No, your data is yours. Learn more about our stance on data policy and our commitment to keeping your data safe.

How Much House Can I Afford?

You've run the numbers, but why do you still feel unsure if you can actually afford one of the biggest purchases of your life?

Is Balancing a Checkbook Necessary?

Are you wondering if it's necessary to keep balancing your checkbook? I say no. It's not worth your time, and I'll lay out why.

Learn How to Stay Out of Debt

Want to stay out of debt? Treat zero like it's not an option. When you're serious about saying no, your brain starts working out another way.

I Hate Debt, But the Reasons Why Might Surprise You

I hate debt, and the reasons might surprise you. Learn how debt restricts financial freedom through the lens of the YNAB Method.

How I Use the Four Rules to Hit My Health Goals

You've mastered your budget with the Four Rules, now apply the same method to mastering your diet. Read more about how to hit health goals.

YNAB 4 Support Ends October 2019

Apple announced that its newest Operating System, called Catalina, will not support 32-bit apps. YNAB 4 is most definitely a 32-bit app.

Learn YNAB’s Rule Three: Roll With the Punches