YNABing

The Story of Jamie and Oscar

Jamie and Oscar have never been good with money and their finances feel like a mess. See how they start budgeting with YNAB and gain total control.

10 Favorites From the YNAB Vault

The best budgeting tips from You Need a Budget are all here! These most-viewed blogs cover everything from debt payoff to the ideal budget.

Why Doesn't My Account Balance Match My Budget?

Frustrated that your accounts don't match in YNAB? We'll explain how to get up-to-date info once and for all.

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.

Take Stock of Your Year with YNAB Reports

If you’ve got an appetite for reflection and nostalgia, well—what about looking at your budget? Nothing could be a truer history of what you did last year.

5 Budget Categories You Need Right Now

Expect the unexpected. Level up your budget categories by adding these five ideas so that "unexpected" costs don't catch you by surprise!

No More Excuses

You can repeat this cycle (YNAB's four rules) whenever you get paid. Keep following the steps, keep budgeting, and you’ll reach your goals.

The Importance of Aging Your Money When Your Income is Unpredictable

The goal is to live off of money that is at least 30 days old. And there are three significant benefits that make this a goal you want to pursue right away.

Change Your Mind, Change Your Budget

If your circumstances or your priorities change, your budget should change too. You didn’t fail or do it wrong. It is supposed to change!

How To Expect The Unexpected

Budget for all the things. Even if it's just a little bit every month, you're building the habit. Any money saved is better than no money saved.

Why Your Budget Doesn’t Work

You've tried this whole budgeting thing but it just doesn't work. Here's why your budget doesn't work (and how to make it so it does).

How Budgeting Was the Secret to Finally Quit Smoking

Melissa Schultz has smoked for as long as she can remember. Believe it or not, budgeting is what finally helped. Find out how.

Planning for Non-Monthly Expenses on an Irregular Income

All those unknowns in your financial life? A lot of them—maybe even most of them—aren’t actually all that unknown after all.

5 Ways to Get Better at Budgeting

No matter where you are in your journey, this good, basic advice will help you succeed in gaining total control of your money.

The Dangers of Forecasting on an Irregular Income

When you forecast, or plan with money you don’t have yet, might put you in a worse position than you were before.

How to Make Spending Decisions When Your Income is Unpredictable

Let's talk about pay cycles. And how you can be in total control of your money even if your pay cycle and your budget cycle don’t align.

What Is the Ideal Age of Money?

Rule Four tells you to Age Your Money. The idea is that you have money before you need money. But, how old is old enough? Well, it depends …

Learn YNAB’s Rule Three: Roll With the Punches

Understanding Your True Expenses (The Power of Rule Two)

This is Rule Two: Embrace Your True Expenses. Break up that larger, less-frequent expense into month-size chunks that you can manage.

How to Handle Multiple Currencies in YNAB

Wondering how to budget in different currency? With YNAB, it's possible to keep your changing timezones neat and tidy financially.

Trick Yourself Into Saving

Whether you’re trying to save up for a big purchase or crush debt, here are a few tricks to help you funnel more dollars toward your dreams.

A Hidden Benefit of Budgeting

Not sure if budgeting is worth it? Well here's an underrated budgeting feature: it'll give you complete financial clarity.

Top 10 Tips to Start Your First Budget

It can feel overwhelming when you first sit down to budget.  Keep these handy tips in mind to keep you from going too crazy.

3 Steps to Reset Your Budget After a Period of Heavy Spending

Overspending happens. If you’ve slid off-track with your spending, here are three steps to help you regain control.