Money Stories

Talking about money is taboo? Not here. Read real stories from real people. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and most of all—you’ll feel understood.

Read real life money stories

She WAMed Her Way to the Grammys: A Swiftie’s Financial Fairytale With YNAB

Discover how a die-hard Swiftie won GRAMMY tickets and financed her dream trip with YNAB. Spoiler: she gets seated just one table away from Taylor Swift herself!

How Brian and Leann Got Maui’d: A Second Chance at YNAB

Brian and Leann used YNAB to save for an amazing wedding and honeymoon, but the real win was the way the experience brought them closer together.

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.

Debt Stories

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How this Family Paid off $266k

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How Esteban Increased His Cash Flow by 55 Percent

Shannon Marie

January 25, 2019

“Having an affinity for tracking my expenses, I had no second thought about signing up. I just knew that it was what I needed and wanted."

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The Cheapest Marriage Counseling You Can Get

Shannon Marie

January 18, 2019

“Ten years ago, I never would’ve thought that a $50,000 trip could be a reality for people like us … we absolutely loved spending what we’d saved."

Aloha, Debt. And, aloha, Debt!

Shannon Marie

January 11, 2019

Chelsea and her husband were newly wed and $215,000 in debt. Find out how they teamed up to fix their finances ...

Laura Found Love & Paid Cash for a Tesla

Shannon Marie

October 26, 2018

For nine years, Laura tried budgeting—with Quicken, Excel and Mint—and it just didn’t stick. But, with YNAB, it's her favorite hobby ...

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“I Was Such a Forecasting/Spreadsheet Guy.”

Shannon Marie

September 14, 2018

"I realized that, not only did I not need to forecast, it might actually be hurting my efforts to establish good budgeting habits."

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The Sweet Sound of YNAB Working

Shannon Marie

August 24, 2018

"After using YNAB, I went from being in debt to buying something I wanted to have for years—a vintage baritone sax for my jazz, plus all the paraphernalia."

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From Hopeless to Zero Credit Card Debt

Shannon Marie

August 17, 2018

I was ashamed, sad, and I felt like an idiot. YNAB helped me carefully assign my money to the right categories and set me free.

From a Net Worth of -$40k to Homeownership

Shannon Marie

August 10, 2018

Jennifer, a 20-something IT analyst, used to buy every gadget that crossed her path. Now, her cousin calls her “The Queen of Cheap.”

Sydney’s Family Paid off $15k of Debt in Six Months

Shannon Marie

August 3, 2018

When Sydney and her husband faced a year and a half without income, they did what they had to do to support their family -- and succeeded!

Dealing with $263k in Debt, Job Loss & the Unknown

Shannon Marie

July 27, 2018

Brittany and Keith live in Marietta, Georgia, and they’d racked up $263,000 of debt—a number that used to keep Brittany awake at night.

They Paid off $30,000 in 3 Years on a $60k Salary

Shannon Marie

July 20, 2018

It's not about finding 1 place to save $100. You try to find a 100 places to save $1. If you cut back, you can move yourself ahead in life…”

How One Couple Paid off $30k in Just 15 Months

Shannon Marie

July 13, 2018

Andy is a pastor. His wife, Melissa, is a stay-at-home mom. When their debt reached $30,000, again, they knew they needed a new plan.

How My Family Survived Two Layoffs in One Year

Shannon Farr

July 11, 2018

My husband and I experienced the sting of job loss twice. I hope that you never lose your job but, if you do, maybe this can help.

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From $500 in the Bank to Retiring Early

Shannon Marie

July 6, 2018

Find out how Tom, an IT business analyst from Kenton, Michigan, realized that it was cheaper to quit his job than to continue working.

This Couple Paid off $70,478 in Student Loans in 18 Months

Shannon Marie

June 23, 2018

Katie and Mark, of Salt Lake City, were married after their sophomore year in college. Back then, they were both sure that, one day, they’d be lawyers (and well-paid ones, at that). But just a semester into law school, Katie realized that it wasn’t the right fit.

Listen to Angela’s Debt Story

Shannon Marie

June 14, 2018

In our first episode of Debt Stories, you'll meet Angela. Her story begins with a new house, new car and lots of coffee.

Melissa Goes Minimal to Crush $40k

YNAB

June 11, 2018

We live in an insanely consumer-driven culture—go buy, and go big! And I’d fallen into the trap. Here's how I went minimalist to pay it off.

From Bankruptcy to Paying off $8,251 in 5 Months

Shannon Marie

May 4, 2018

Christian and Cedric beat bankruptcy, took control of their cash and feel closer because they finally feel like they’re on the same team.

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He Paid off $89,600 & Increased His Net Worth 2,840%

Shannon Marie

March 30, 2018

With all of the changes brought on by their move, by May 2016, Eric’s head was spinning. He said, “I felt we were drowning financially."

How Carsen Saved Three Months of Living Expenses

Shannon Marie

February 23, 2018

Carsen went from being a guy with a couple hundred bucks in his savings account to having enough to buy a car in cash, if he really had to.

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You Need A Whiteboard?

Shannon Marie

February 21, 2018

Find out how Katrina and her husband, Robert Dixon—a 20-something couple that lives in Strathmore, Alberta, Canada—used YNAB for more than a year, without actually buying our software ...

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How One Couple Crushed $33k in Debt in 14 Months

Shannon Marie

January 19, 2018

A year after they were engaged, Brendan and Alisha faced a very disappointing possibility: postponing their wedding. Something had to change.

How One Woman’s Budget Set Her Free

Shannon Marie

November 10, 2017

How Elena Santogade's budget took her from chaos to peace—and helped her pursue her greatest passion: cheese. That's right ...

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“Having a Budget Has Been Extremely Comforting.”

Shannon Marie

November 8, 2017

When things got dicey Kevin and Natalie turned to their budget. Although it didn't solve all of their problems, it helped them find their way.

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Money Stories

Talking about money is taboo? Not here. Read real stories from real people. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and most of all—you’ll feel understood.

Talking about money is taboo? Not here. Read real stories from real people. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and most of all—you’ll feel understood.

Read real life money stories

She WAMed Her Way to the Grammys: A Swiftie’s Financial Fairytale With YNAB

How Brian and Leann Got Maui’d: A Second Chance at YNAB

Financial Freedom, Generosity, and the Power of YNAB: Eric’s Story

Other resources…

Debt Stories

Debt Stories

How this Family Paid off $266k

How this Family Paid off $266k

All

Money Stories

Articles

How Esteban Increased His Cash Flow by 55 Percent

The Cheapest Marriage Counseling You Can Get

Aloha, Debt. And, aloha, Debt!

Laura Found Love & Paid Cash for a Tesla

“I Was Such a Forecasting/Spreadsheet Guy.”

The Sweet Sound of YNAB Working

From Hopeless to Zero Credit Card Debt

From a Net Worth of -$40k to Homeownership

Sydney’s Family Paid off $15k of Debt in Six Months

Dealing with $263k in Debt, Job Loss & the Unknown

They Paid off $30,000 in 3 Years on a $60k Salary

How One Couple Paid off $30k in Just 15 Months

How My Family Survived Two Layoffs in One Year

From $500 in the Bank to Retiring Early

This Couple Paid off $70,478 in Student Loans in 18 Months

Listen to Angela’s Debt Story

Melissa Goes Minimal to Crush $40k

From Bankruptcy to Paying off $8,251 in 5 Months

He Paid off $89,600 & Increased His Net Worth 2,840%

How Carsen Saved Three Months of Living Expenses

You Need A Whiteboard?

How One Couple Crushed $33k in Debt in 14 Months

How One Woman’s Budget Set Her Free

“Having a Budget Has Been Extremely Comforting.”

No articles found