Using YNAB

The Five-Minute YNAB Routine

Ever wondered how often to check YNAB? We've laid out a routine that's sure to be successful, and it starts with just five minutes.

Kat Hickey

January 6, 2023

Find the Money First

One night, I ate part of a 1984 Yamaha 1000cc motorbike. It wasn’t a very big part, mind you (just a throttle cable and part of its housing).

Dave Crombleholme

May 28, 2017

Welcome to the YNAB Wish Farm!

If you’re wondering how to save money without feeling restricted, the Wish Farm is a practical way to prioritize savings goals and spend intentionally.

Dave Crombleholme

March 1, 2021

How I Restart My Budget in YNAB

All in all, the most time-consuming part of this exercise was the part I enjoyed most: rethinking my goals. Consider how a Fresh Start could help you re-focus.

Erin Lowell

February 22, 2017

A Guide To Knowing When You’ve Made It

Analyzing your risk tolerance & setting a personal target for your Age of Money can help take your peace of mind to the next level.

Todd Curtis

January 27, 2017

Cost Cutting With YNAB Reports

Achieving your financial goals often requires some sacrifices. Find out how budget reports can help you identify cost cutting opportunities.

Erin Lowell

March 22, 2022

Credit Cards In YNAB: The Long Read

Trying to understand the underlying logic behind credit cards in YNAB? We're going to take a short history lesson back to the 16th century.

Jesse Mecham

April 13, 2016

Use Your Spending Trends As A Force For Good, Not Guilt

Just in case you missed it, we recently launched Reports. At some point, eventually, I promise we will stop screaming about it, but at this point, we are still pretty excited.

Jesse Mecham

November 2, 2016

How to Use YNAB Reports in Real Life

Now that reports are here, (yay!) we want to help you get the most out of them. Sure, they are pretty to look at, but more importantly, all that glorious data can help you make more informed, meaningful decisions. Better decisions lead to better budgeting and more control.

Lindsey Burgess

October 25, 2016

How Old Is Your Money?

No financial number offers a complete picture of your financial stability or flexibility. Learn what the age of money says about your budget.

Jesse Mecham

January 8, 2016

Why Starting Fresh Isn’t Giving Up

What’s the difference between “starting over” and “starting fresh”? One of them feels pretty heavy, doesn’t it? A little bit like failure.

Todd Curtis

January 19, 2016

How to Handle Overspending

We try not to play favorites, but if we had a favorite rule, let’s just say Rule Three: Roll With the Punches, would be a front-runner. And we talk a lot about “Rolling with the Punches,” but today we want to talk about exactly what you can do to address overspending.

Jesse Mecham

September 16, 2015

How I Lost (And Found) $1,025

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

Erin Lowell

July 3, 2015

How to Get a Month Ahead in YNAB

Break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle with YNAB. Learn how to get a month ahead, fund expenses early, and build lasting financial stability.

Erin Lowell

April 10, 2025

Trust your Budget and Close Some Accounts!

Can you imagine how simple things would be with one account? Think about it. No transfers, no wondering how to move things around.

Jesse Mecham

November 7, 2010

Balancing Your Budget and Accounts (Whiteboard Wednesday)

Today we discuss a simple equation to help you balance your on-budget accounts with your budget.

Jesse Mecham

March 18, 2010

Can You Run Your Business on YNAB?

Laugh if you will, but I fell for the line that once I formed YNAB into a “real company” (meaning I actually filed papers and all of that), I would need appropriate accounting software to run the show.

Jesse Mecham

February 28, 2012

3 Steps to Save Money Faster

Want to save money faster? Here’s a little game that can help you save $30 to $100 more per month – without affecting your quality of life.

Erin Lowell

June 10, 2018