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YNABing

New to organizing your finances (or maybe new to YNAB?) Pop the bubbly, you’re here! Check out the most popular posts about how to be a better money manager.

New to organizing your finances (or maybe new to YNAB?) Pop the bubbly, you’re here! Check out the most popular posts about how to be a better money manager.

Learn the whys and hows of money management

New to YNAB? Start Here!

Learn how to use the YNAB Method, give every dollar a job, and set up your first categories with beginner videos and guides.

We’re a Spendfulness App Now. We Always Were.

It doesn’t feel like we made up spendfulness, it feels like we found it. Dan breaks down what it means for you (spoiler: a life well spent).

Top 10 Frequently Asked YNAB Questions

You've got questions, we've got answers. Here are the 10 most frequently asked questions from new YNABers.

Is Your Attitude Hindering Your Budgeting Success?

Jesse Mecham
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July 7, 2015

From Podcast #176: Is That Budget Half Empty or Half Full? Jesse dispenses some relationship advice that could help lead to budgeting success.

How I Lost (And Found) $1,025

Erin Lowell
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July 3, 2015

Ever find $5 in your pants pocket and feel like you won the lottery? Well, yesterday, I had a similar experience except way better.

If You Don’t Know When Or How Much You’ll Be Paid Next, Read This

Jesse Mecham
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June 12, 2015

YNAB is the right weapon for the variable income fight. Its simple interface allows you to manage your Variable Income Fund easily.

What I Wish I Could Tell Every New YNABer

Jesse Mecham
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May 9, 2015

If I could sit down with every new YNABer at my kitchen table with a cup of coffee, this is what I’d say: I struggled at first, too.

Why is Money Important to You? No, But Really, WHY?

Jesse Mecham
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March 31, 2015

If you’re a personal finance junkie like me, you’ll get a lot of value out of the first half of the book, The One Page Financial Plan.

Just Start. (Just Do It Was Already Taken, But That Too.)

Jesse Mecham
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January 1, 2015

New Year’s Day. A day when we awake to fresh possibilities. And quite possibly, the realization that, yes, we really need a budget. It’s a great moment because it means you’re right there on the edge of taking control of your money and all the ways it impacts your life. (So. Many. Ways.

How YNAB changed me.

Erin Lowell
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October 14, 2014

I went from borrower to a saver after learning how to align my money with my priorities. It changed everything.

Don’t Hide Behind My Rules. You Have One Priority.

Jesse Mecham
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August 29, 2014

Debt is not mandatory; you have options. Reevaluate your budget priorities and make choices that can change your financial future forever.

The Five Stages of (Budget) Grief

Guest Author
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July 16, 2014

Okay YNAB friends. Christy here, and I’m about to get deep. Are you ready for this? Turn on your favorite slow jam and pour yourself something dangerous. (Dr.Pepper on the rocks? Oh no you didn’t.) My recent journey with YNAB has led me down a path of self-reflection.

Budgeting Is Sexy

Jesse Mecham
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June 25, 2014

Hello, fellow YNABians! Alex here. You read the title right. Just like J. Money tells us, budgeting is sexy! See, I signed up for online dating a couple weeks ago. After all, I spend my working days alone at home, writing things like annual reports, middle school resources, books and, of course, blog posts.

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The Ultimate Financial Advisor: You and Your Budget

Erin Lowell
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June 24, 2014

I’m writing this on behalf of your friendly YNAB education team (Malisa, Lee, Sherri, Todd, Ronna and Dave). We love teaching you about YNAB. We love hearing where you’re from and reaching folks across the globe.

How do I budget if I'm paid fortnightly?

Jesse Mecham
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March 11, 2014

The perceived conflict between a month-based budget layout and other-than-monthly pay schedules has confused many of us. Here's how to do it.

5 Common Budgeting Breakdowns...and How to Get Past Them

Jesse Mecham
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February 14, 2014

While you're getting started with budgeting, you may hit a few snags. Use the recommended reading (and videos) to help you stay on track.

“Ishouldbut” is not a word, so don’t say it.

Jesse Mecham
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October 24, 2013

YNABers who request budget reviews are a couple steps ahead of most of us – they open themselves up to criticism. This takes real guts.

5 Anxiety-Inducing Weak Spots In My Budget

Mark Butler
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September 26, 2013

As you budget, check to see if you have any of these weak spots that might threaten your savings momentum.

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Why You Should Use Hashtags in Your Transaction Memos

Mark Butler
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September 13, 2013

Memo hashtags let me keep all the expenses in their proper category instead of lumping them all into a “vacation” category.

Confessions of a YNAB Teacher

Erin Lowell
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July 26, 2013

Having a financial buffer is peace of mind. My stress level decreased, and if something came up, I had time to adjust and adapt.

My Excel Spreadsheet Budget Works Just Fine, Thank You

Mark Butler
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July 11, 2013

If my wife and I wanted to separate most of our finances while sharing certain bills, here’s how I’d do it: 1 budget file 3 checking accounts (Mark’s, Kate’s, Shared) 3 master categories (Mark’s, Kate’s, Shared) *I say ‘3 checking accounts’ for simplicity, but it’s more accurate to say three types of acc

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Separate Accounts, Shared Budget

Mark Butler
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June 24, 2013

Some partners prefer to budget together for shared expenses and separately for others. Here's one way to do that in YNAB!

The 60/40 and the 80/20 Budget Methods Fall Short

Jesse Mecham
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June 17, 2013

I love the concept of automation and I think we should apply it to our personal finances wherever sensible, including our savings and budget.

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Keep Monopoly Money Out of Your Budget

Jesse Mecham
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May 8, 2013

A couple of my recent posts have mentioned Rule One. Yesterday’s sparked a conversation with a good friend who told me he’s been breaking Rule One without even realizing it (which I’ve also done).

5 Questions My Mom Asked Me About Getting Started With YNAB

Jesse Mecham
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May 7, 2013

What matters is finding a work flow that helps you make better, more thoughtful decisions about your money.

Just a Spoonful of Hope Helps the Reality Check Go Down.

Jesse Mecham
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March 15, 2013

The comments following my 2012 budget recap were awesome. I’m motivated to invest more by spending less. A few commenters were a bit down on themselves for where they are currently at financially, which is what spurred the following thoughts.

A Method to Your Madness

Jesse Mecham
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June 25, 2012

As the YNAB Team, we’ve been living and breathing YNAB 4 and its evolution for the past 18 months. We’ve debated minutiae that would drive most of you insane (“This is a pixel off.")

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