Budget

This post is adapted from YNAB's twice-monthly newsletter, Loose Change. ‍There’s an old game where children roll a big wooden hoop and whack it with a stick to keep it moving. I know this because one summer I took a break from playing NBA Jam to attend historical...

Those of you who keep a dictionary within arm’s reach may have noticed a troubling development across YNAB: we made up a word. (Come at us, Webster!) We have only one defense: it doesn’t feel like we made up spendfulness, it feels like we found it.The story of...

I started using YNAB in the summer of 2006, right after adding up a mountain of debt from a recent home renovation. I needed something—anything—to help me dig out of that hole. What hooked me was that this method wasn’t just about numbers; it was about principles....

‍This post is adapted from YNAB's twice-monthly newsletter, Loose Change. ‍What ADHD educator Brendan Mahan calls "The Wall of Awful" often begins something like this: You come home from school, set down your bag, and there’s some invisible, magnetic force that repels...

This post is part of YNAB’s 20th Anniversary series. Cheers to 20 Years!When I taught YNAB workshops, I often said, “When you look at your spending plan, you should see your life reflected back at you.” After all, this is your money—it should align with your...

More than ever before, I feel like I’m under a constant barrage of targeted reminders to buy more stuff. More tech, more kids’ toys, more dog treats, better cars. If I had a dollar for every time I got sucked into a 20-minute review for some cool new piece of tech on...

When I started at YNAB back in the bygone days of 2016, I had a pretty standard expectation of what my first day would be like—meet the team, set up my accounts, and get used to the remote work setup. What I didn’t expect was a quick chat with Chance, our head of...

Look, you’ve been nailing it. Your YNAB categories are locked down tighter than a drum, your Rule Four buffer is purring like a kitten, and you’ve got your holiday spending plan ready to roll. But then—BAM!—your kid walks in the door, eyes wide, and drops the real...

This post is adapted from YNAB's twice-monthly newsletter, Loose Change. Years ago, I was tasked with creating a concept for an adult summer camp. I called it “Camp Re: Play”—a nod to living life online, and an invitation to rewind to an earlier time of reckless,...

This post is adapted from YNAB's twice-monthly newsletter, Loose Change. “Thanks… grandpa.” The extended pause between those two words spoke volumes: I was totally stumped by my birthday gift.I carefully inspected my mint-condition set of U.S. states and territories...

This post is adapted from YNAB's twice-monthly newsletter, Loose Change. There’s an old quote that gets passed around Stoic communities by Blaise Pascal, “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” Though this idea has been...

Twenty years ago, Jesse Mecham created a teensy spreadsheet to help make rent and graduate college debt-free. That little side project sparked something much bigger: a global movement, challenging centuries of financial misconceptions and transforming money from a...

Way back in January 2012, I had an opportunity as a brand new husband to step up for my bride. Katelynn and I had gotten married in December 2011, just a couple weeks after she had graduated from college. She knew she had racked up some student debt over the past 4.5...

Life’s biggest events often come with joy, excitement, and… ahem… money stress.Much of this overwhelm stems from the costs that pile up with these new chapters. Wait, how much do diapers cost? And why is a wedding cake priced by the slice? It can feel like you’re...

Ever been at a halftime show when the guy with the free t-shirt cannon comes out? Get hyped—you're going to love this blog post. Did you know there are a bunch of ways you may get YNAB for free? It’s true. There are people using YNAB for free all over the world, and...

This post is adapted from YNAB's twice-monthly newsletter, Loose Change. There’s a phrase that doesn’t quite roll off the tongue: “Can you pay me back?”Even a text message can feel hard to craft when asking about money is involved.Hey! [Subtext: I am speaking in a...

We live in an interesting time. On one hand, we’re reminded to be mindful, to slow down, to live intentionally. On the other hand, the automated life is increasingly gaining traction—from self-regulating thermostats and cars that drive themselves, to apps that can...

At first, when I was asked to write this list of 20 reasons I love YNAB, I was a little hesitant. That’s a whole lotta reasons… But, I should’ve known better. As I wrote, they just kept on coming. You see, YNAB has changed my financial wellbeing—profoundly. And I’m...

I’m just going to come right out and admit it: I’m bad at budgeting. And vacuuming. And putting away laundry. Maybe most of adulthood, actually? I didn’t expect to be facing such hard truths when I sat down to write this. Anyway, my intent is always good. I’ve tried...

Have you ever had a financial year from h-e-double-hockey-sticks? Everything that can go wrong seems to be going wrong in the worst possible ways… and all at the same time. I’m in one of those years right now. I recently discovered I miscalculated my tax withholding,...

To know Ashley L. is to love her. On the @OrganizedWallet, she effortlessly combines her passion for growth with an incredibly aesthetic lifestyle that feels refreshingly within reach. Her pristine home, stylish wardrobe, meticulously organized YNAB categories, and...

Did you know you can name your budget in YNAB? It’s true, you can call each and every budget in your YNAB account something different. And since the name of your budget is so prominent right there in the top left corner of the web app, it’s a great opportunity to make...

I spend all day every day teaching people how to align their money with their priorities. I’ve seen breakthroughs in individuals. I’ve heard thousands of stories from people whose lives have been changed by the Four Rules. So why is it that I have such a hard time...

“We spent HOW much on food last month?!” That conversation was the spark that ignited starting my YNAB trial, and which turned into years of YNAB fandom. My husband and I were using Mint at the time (RIP, and welcome Mint Migrators!). We couldn’t agree on how much we...

Ever feel like your money is always riding a unicycle on a high wire? Discover a YNAB teacher's practical tips to find your financial balance and tackle big goals with confidence.

Tension is thick in the air, sparks flying as a couple stands face-to-face, locked in an intense struggle. But this isn't just any battle—it's the battleground of finances, where love and money collide!In one corner, we have Lara, a fierce spending Guardian armed with...

This post is adapted from YNAB's twice-monthly newsletter, Loose Change. There’s this person that keeps following you around the store. Don’t freak out; it’s not a stranger and they mean you no harm. It’s your past. 👋“Oh hey, remember how you majored in philosophy?...

“So, you have a brain aneurysm.” Last summer, my world turned upside down in a single day. I went from training for a half-marathon and helping my parents with a garage sale to sitting in the ER, learning I had a mass on my thyroid and a brain aneurysm behind my right...

You’re buzzing along, getting the hang of YNAB, and then the calendar flips to a new month. You open YNAB and—oh man!—things look different. Some of the numbers have changed, but not all of them. Everything is fresh, but also still familiar. You’re asking, “Am I...

36…37…38… Every second drags on, as the icy cold water washes over me. The frigid cascade takes my breath away during the slow count up to sixty seconds. But I endure it, even embrace it. And afterwards, my body sings and my senses are sharpened. I feel awakened and...

You’ve probably heard us say it: YNAB isn’t just an app. It's a life-changing method grounded in four simple habits designed to help you spend, save, and give intentionally. Even joyfully.But in tough financial situations, being joyful about money can be hard to...

One of my favorite hobbies is taking on multi-day hikes in the Appalachian Mountains near my home in Maine. There’s no better way to clear my mind than actually living outside in a beautiful place with a clear goal in mind. When I map out these hikes, I consider many...

When I first joined YNAB, I was hit with an unexpected challenge: creating a 50-item bucket list. Fifty?! At first, it felt like attempting to fold a fitted sheet.Inspired by my team’s completed lists, I started daydreaming about what it would be like to go on a train...

When we say give every dollar a job, we really mean every single dollar! Let's talk Rule One of the YNAB Method: Give Every Dollar a Job. You know it (or maybe you don't yet), you love it (or you will soon), and it goes like this: Every time you get paid, you direct...

‍Sneak Preview:Great Places to Work still offer the best traditional benefits focused on health, energy, and long-term financial stability (snacks don’t cut it!).But many workers don’t have enough financial clarity or buying power to make the best use of your benefits...

This post is adapted from YNAB's twice-monthly newsletter, Loose Change. There was a period of time when I wanted a backpack. I didn’t really have a job and I constantly worried about money, but that didn’t stop me from pouring untold hours into the search. From...

This post is adapted from YNAB's twice-monthly newsletter, Loose Change. One of the challenges of being a parent is trying to operate with split attention: you want to be present for your kids but also dinner’s behind schedule… and is the homework done? You’ve...

Way back in 2014, I sunk a whopping 40.5 hours into an indie video game called “Papers, Please.” Have you heard of it? You play as a customs agent in a fictional Soviet Union-esque country. Every day, you work your way through a line of grumpy travelers, looking for...

There's no such thing as cutting spending. No really, there's no such thing. You can't cut spending. It's impossible. So why try? It's an exercise in futility.Allow me to explain.Let’s say you come to me and say, “You know, we're spending $1,000 a month on groceries,...

Imagine waking up every day knowing exactly how your money is paving the way toward the future you want. With YNAB targets, you can pinpoint how much you need each month for all the things that matter to you—from your childcare expenses to your dream vacation.Targets...

This post is adapted from YNAB's twice-monthly newsletter, Loose Change. ‍Ever have a bad day surrounded by people who seem to be having the best day of their lives? You might feel pressure to share some good news yourself. Let them know that you’re on the up and up...

After the release of our April Fool’s video, YNAB for Pets, we heard from a bunch of pet owners whose dreams came true that day…‍"Finally, my goldfish has a tool to work toward breaking the paycheck to paycheck cycle." -Max"My pets are like, 'Mint never did this for...

Most of the folks who work here at YNAB know a lot about money. We can lay down a spending plan in two minutes without any help from a calculator or fancy iPhone apps. Many of us can whip up an amortization schedule faster than you can say “interest rate.” So you...

Most of the folks who work here at YNAB know a lot about money. We can lay down a spending plan in two minutes without any help from a calculator or fancy iPhone apps. Many of us can whip up an amortization schedule faster than you can say “interest rate.” So you...

This post is adapted from YNAB's twice-monthly newsletter, Loose Change. Buying stuff is easy, understanding why we do it is not. Certain purchases can seem non sequitur: the loner who never invites anyone to his house but builds a bar for entertaining. The person who...

When you start using YNAB for the first time, you expect to get your finances organized, reach some financial goals, and feel better about your money. But there are so many more unexpected benefits that come from working (werking? WORKING!) the YNAB Method. And you...

“Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life.” This timeless saying sounds good in theory, but how often do we pause and reflect on what it would actually look like to design a life that aligns with our passions? Moving from the hustle of LA to the...

In the heart of every transformative money story lies a simple, yet profound question: How do you want to spend your money? This question isn't just about financial transactions—it's about aligning your resources with your values, creating joyful little ripples of...

It’s National Self-Care Day, and what better way to celebrate than by sharing the unique ways the YNAB team uses our spending plans for self-care? As they say, “Self-care is the best healthcare.” At YNAB, we believe money isn’t just a tool for paying bills; it’s a key...

Sometimes it takes a few tries to accomplish a goal. Back in 1998, I was nine years old when The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time came out. I was immediately hooked, battling my way through Zelda dungeons until I got to the absolutely terrifying Shadow Temple....

‍Screeeeeech! There it was: the trash truck just one house away, interrupting my morning coffee. Another shirt stain as I shot up to make it to the curb in time. Clad in my rattiest pajamas and house slippers, unacceptable by any social standard, I couldn’t miss...

You don’t have to hold your iPhone right up to your face to see yourself. I mean, you could do that, or you could just start swiping through your apps and mobile wallet. These days, your device is the mirror of your life—your schedule, goals, priorities, health—and...

W-2? 1099-MISC? 1098-E? Check, check, and bingo. It’s tax time!Tax season has arrived, and with it, a flurry of trifold, self-mailers with perforated, tear-away edges—each containing a mathematical summary of your life in concisely-labeled boxes. Meanwhile,...

We all know that one person who’s in a constant state of negativity. When something challenging or inconvenient comes up, they say something like, “Of course! Things like this always happen to me.” And when something positive happens, they inevitably find something to...

What’s fair when it comes to money in a relationship? 50/50?What about the fact that women generally earn $0.82 for every $1 men earn?Or what if your financial compensation doesn’t match your real-world impact (looking at you teachers, nurses, school bus drivers)?What...

Let's set the scene: You're a die-hard Taylor Swift fan, singing along to "22" while applying your signature red lip. Suddenly, an email notification pops up on your phone—*You've won the Grammys seat-filler ticket lottery!*Drop everything now. The Grammys are just a...

Swish. There’s nothing quite like the sound of flipping open the first page of a magazine. Exchanging boots for slippers after grabbing the mail amidst the freeze, I wrapped myself in a cozy blanket, brewed a cup of tea, and eagerly tore into the pages of my local...

There are a lot of reasons you may find yourself handling the finances of a loved one. In fact, you might not see some of them coming.Whether it’s advancing age, medical issues, financial trouble, or an accident or emergency, these types of situations can leave you...

This morning, I spent a silly amount of time asking myself how I should spend my time. On writing days like today, I like to ride my Onewheel down to the coffee shop near my house. It’s only about a ten or fifteen-minute ride, and I always enjoy it. Maybe it was...

You help your kids with schoolwork. Maybe you drive them to soccer or dance. There was even a time when you tried to teach them to clean up after themselves. But what about money? What do you want them to learn about making, saving, and spending money? What kind of...

One of my favorite places in the world is the YMCA. Have you heard of it? They say that there you can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal, you can do whatever you feel. 🎵🕺 Yes, it’s fun to stay at the YMCA, but nowadays, they don’t serve food and I think the...

Mint’s strong suit was expense tracking and spending reports, but it also had key budgeting features that Mint users have used for over a decade. Now, Credit Karma is a popular personal finance app in its own right with a whopping 100 million members, however, it...

Some models look exactly the same in person as they do in print. Fabio is one of them. I know this because I met Fabio—yes, the actual Fabio—years ago at my local natural foods store. I had recently committed myself to eating more vegetables and hatched the perfect...

It’s a new dawn. It’s a new day. It’s a NEW YEAR! As we stand on the threshold of 2024, it's natural to reflect on the changes you want to make in your life and challenge yourself to take the bull by the horns. But not in the ‘gag, eye roll, challenges never work for...

I used to come home from middle school and turn on The Maury Povich Show or, let’s face it, Jerry Springer. There, sitting on a stage lit by dozens of cameras, in front of a stadium-style audience, would be an out-of-control teenager, wayward parents, or warring...

I was still clearing the cobwebs from my brain with my first cup of coffee as I opened my inbox. Among unread newsletters, random special offers, and a daily digest of what my neighbors were arguing about on NextDoor, something caught my eye: a Delta trip...

When the idea of doing the More Money Challenge first came up, my first thought was, “There’s no way I’ll get my husband on board with this.” I’m a Senior Support Specialist here at YNAB—and as you can imagine, that means my husband hears an awful lot about the...

Remember doing group projects back in school and, more often than not, one person would end up with most of the responsibility and would basically do the project alone? Somehow YNAB hired all of those people. And the result is workplace utopia. We have a team full of...

As I’m writing this, I’m sitting in a coffee shop in my small Blue-Ridge-Mountains town. It’s cold outside, instrumental Christmas music is playing. There is a gray-haired lady to my right telling a very animated story, and I’m enjoying a hot cup of English Breakfast....

Feeling inspired to organize your finances once and for all? Our free Change Your Money Mindset printable can put you on the right path to less money stress in the new year and beyond. January has a way of inspiring us to stop and evaluate where we are in life versus...

If it seems like your money has a secret life that’s cooler than yours, you’re not crazy. You're not alone, either (YNAB wouldn’t exist otherwise!). And so much of the money talk swirling out there feeds into that feeling. “In one hand, out the other.” “Money is the...

If you’re craving a reset for your finances, join our More Money Challenge to start fresh.Are You Ready for a Reset?I don’t know about you, but the older I get, the more I feel like the holidays are something I do for other people. Don’t get me wrong, I love...

We've all experienced that exhilarating moment when you reach into your wallet and pull out a gift card, right? It's like holding a little slice of financial freedom in your hands. The possibilities are endless, and there's an undeniable sense of joy knowing that you...

There it is: that gravitational pull to throw Love Actually on the TV, sing along with the All I Want for Christmas Is You scene, and contemplate your love for your partner. Do it...give in!What is it about the post-holiday season that lights the love spark? Maybe...

So you’re dreaming of your next vacation: a cozy cabin getaway, or a wide-open sandy beach: something to just get you away from your current grind. The location is almost set, now you just need to save money to get you there.Imagine this: what if you could pay for all...

With the price of—well, seemingly everything—rising these days, it’s a great time to hone your creative saving skills. While it’s easy to make a half-hearted decision to spend less, coming up with an actual plan to do so vastly increases your chance of success....

Although a lot of people think of budgeting as restrictive, those of us “in the know” (that makes us sound so much cooler, don’t you think?) understand that keeping a budget actually allows us to buy what we want—without the guilt. Most of us have costs that could be...

You’ve probably heard of “The Great Resignation.” For you, it might not just be a buzzword. Maybe you’re a business owner struggling to find talent, an HR professional working to keep your team intact, or an active participant saying, “I’ve had it!” with your current...

About Us and Why We’re HiringWe build “You Need a Budget,” the best budgeting software and educational resources around. (Those in the know call us YNAB, which is pronounced “why-nab.”) For more than a decade, people have been buying YNAB and then telling their...

AfterPay, Apple Pay Later, Sezzle, Zip, Klarna, Affirm, Paypal’s Pay in 4…the list of companies advertising four easy, no-interest payments continues to grow. But how does Afterpay work? And could these offers be too good to be true? It certainly adds another layer of...

About Us and Why We’re HiringWe build “You Need a Budget,” the best budgeting software and educational resources around. (Those in the know call us YNAB, which is pronounced “why-nab.”) For more than a decade, people have been buying YNAB and then telling their...

How many YNAB categories should I have? 12, 24, 158?This is a question we’ve been getting since the dawn of time—err, well, since the dawn of YNAB in 2004. It’s not just new budgeters that get bogged down with this question, either. As you move farther along the...

It's 4th of July and you know what that means! A long weekend, family barbecues, patriotic color palettes for clothing, and everyone's (except for dogs) favorite: fireworks. Here at YNAB, we think that calls for a good old fashioned sing-a-long!To be honest, we think...

It happens to all of us at some point—we set our keys down or put something important somewhere “safe” because we’re so darn confident that our memory won’t fail us and then we have no idea where to find it. It’s easy to forget how easy it is to forget stuff. The...

Grocery shopping on a budget is one of budgeting’s greatest challenges—especially as prices continue to rise. Get organized and cut costs with our free price tracker and grocery planner templates.Groceries have been a sore spot in my budget for years, and as the...

There are three basic questions when it comes to credit: What is a good credit score? Why do I need one? And how do I get one? It’s no secret that we don’t love debt here at YNAB, however, we recognize that credit can be a useful tool when used carefully. But instead...

Summer spells freedom! Drop tops. Flip flops. Board shorts. Most importantly, road trips! International travel restrictions and flight mishaps have brought one reality to the surface: there is so much to see domestically…in every country! National Park enthusiasts,...

Let’s be honest, we save money in order to spend it. Whether we plan to spend it on our wants or our needs, the goal of saving—even for retirement—is to eventually spend. With investing, you’re saving with the hope that your money will multiply and work for you. Its...

Ahhh, the emergency fund.It’s something you’ve probably heard about whether you’re just starting out on your personal finance journey, or are a budgeting pro. But how much should you be saving? What is considered a true “emergency”? Do you even need an emergency fund?...

If you’re trying to decide which side to take in the 401k vs Roth IRA investment vehicle battle, we’ve got some advice. Take your ringside seats and LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE with retirement savings. 401k vs Roth IRA As in any fair fight, our opponents have some...

A zero-based budget is a method of budgeting where you assign all of your money to budget categories that cover expenses, debt payments, and savings. Rule One of the YNAB Method, Give Every Dollar a Job, is a fundamental element of zero-based budgeting. And doing so...

Download our free printable chore chart and budget workbook for kids below!Having your kids do chores can be a lot like hiring Amelia Bedelia but with a bad attitude—at best, it can be more of a hindrance than a help, and at worst, it’s lowkey psychological warfare....

The connection between money and mental health in college students is a significant one. College is a transitional phase of life where young adults are often living away from home for the first time and find themselves juggling new opportunities, conflicting...

Need some help learning how to budget as a college student? Sign up for a free year of YNAB and keep reading!Ahh…college. The ultimate crash course in Adulting 101. You probably sashayed onto campus feeling triumphant at first—you’d made it. You escaped high school....

We were a family of six barely surviving from paycheck to paycheck. It seemed emergencies were always popping up—a car that needed new brakes, a roof that needed repairing. We were in a desperate position of choosing between how to pay for the unexpected expense and...

I’m a productivity junkie—I’ve dabbled in most of the to-do list apps out there, and I’ve experimented with every variety of Post-it notes, pens, and fancy journals. Nothing ever seems to stick!YNAB is great because I never have to “system hop” when it comes to my...

Ready to organize your finances and your life? Download our free printable habit tracker below. As the lazy days of summer come to an end, a lot of us find ourselves being shoved back into the hustle and bustle a new school year can bring. Maybe you’re organizing...

A friend recently forwarded me a post that appeared on Slate.com: Toss Your Budget – Why a pillar of personal finance isn’t nearly as essential as we think.The essence of the post was that budgets don’t work. Sure, the piece is older now and out of the discussion...

Whether it’s rising rent prices, the availability of remote work, or just good old fashioned wanderlust, a lot of working adults are trading a white picket fence for a passport or state park pass instead. Call them van lifers, digital nomads, perpetual travelers,...

Do you find yourself asking, “Why can’t I save money?” Or looking for some simple ways to do it? You’re not alone.Saving money—by its very nature—is a simple concept. You don’t have to take a 30-minute personal finance webinar that explains how saving money works. But...

When it feels like stepping out the front door automatically costs $200, it’s hard to prioritize luxuries like entertainment. Adulthood is expensive (even more so lately!) and that can really put a damper on date night—but only if you let it. Being on a budget doesn’t...

I’m coming up on my 10th anniversary of using YNAB and wanted to sum up a few things I’ve learned and what YNAB has done for me over the past decade.YNAB has helped me achieve my financial goals. With YNAB, I saw what my money could do. Based on what it showed me: I...

Here at YNAB, we believe all budgets are beautiful. Because of course we do—we’re all about budgeting. However, objectively speaking, there’s a reason budgets aren’t displayed in galleries or shown off on the red carpet. They’re just not very exciting to look at for...

About Us and Why We’re HiringWe build “You Need a Budget,” the best budgeting software and education resources around. (Those in the know call us YNAB, which is pronounced “why-nab.”) For more than a decade, people have been buying YNAB and then telling their friends...

Ernie, a teacher here at YNAB, and his wife Christy, a post-adoption coordinator, live in Eau Claire, WI. While they’ve never felt overly burdened by the amount of their debts, they’re not thrilled by how long it’s taking to pay it all off. Can you relate? Overwhelmed...

As a person who needs a clear written-out plan, *raised hand emoji* I love using YNAB to track my personal finance and investing goals. Every year on my birthday in July, I sit down and write out what I’ve accomplished in the past year and what I want to accomplish in...

About Us and Why We’re HiringWe build “You Need a Budget,” the best budgeting software around. (But people in the know call us YNAB, which is pronounced “why-nab”). For more than a decade, people have been buying YNAB and then telling their friends what a difference...

Ok, so you need your current stash of money to last as long as it can. Sure, you might wish it were a bigger stash, but we're not going to dwell on it and neither should you. It is what it is, now let's get to work: here’s how to take your pile of money and make it...

As the late, great John D. Rockefeller once said, “I try to do the right thing with money. Save a dollar here and there, clip some coupons, buy 10 gold chains instead of 20, four summer homes instead of eight.” Well, actually that was LL Cool J, but it’s decent advice...

“Good things come to those who wait.” Ugh. Yeah. No one wants to hear it. So cliché. So annoying. And, unfortunately (because waiting is boring!), so true. When it comes to spending, most of us know what we should do, but what we should do seems like no fun at all. We...

We build “You Need a Budget,” the best budgeting software and educational resources around. (Those in the know call us YNAB, which is pronounced “why-nab”). For more than a decade, people have been using YNAB and then telling their friends what a difference it has...

In all of the work and all of the effort that goes into saving more money, paying off debt (if that’s your priority) or breaking that paycheck to paycheck cycle (which I would absolutely encourage you to do), in all of your effort, I think, every once in a while—...

What would you do with $5,050? Check an exotic locale off of your travel bucket list? Dive into your curiosity about investing? Free yourself of credit card debt? Put a hefty downpayment on a car? Bask in the comfort of having a sweet little emergency fund in your...

What does it mean to live within your means? Living within your means is when you are making more money than you are spending. Creating a monthly budget and sticking to a spending plan can help you get to a point where you have enough money to routinely cover your...

So, you’re living the dream. Through hard work, diligent saving, and solid financial planning, you’ve reached the long term financial goal that so many strive to achieve: the golden years of retirement. Now what? Well, your daily life is going to look a little...

A lot of us are looking  for two main things on this journey through life: Love and money. (And maybe some other stuff, like inner peace, calorie-free ice cream,  and the TV remote, but love and money are fairly universal desires.)Although finances and feelings seem...

Once upon a time in the YNABverse, making a plan for your money was an individual sport. You linked accounts (or didn’t), practiced YNAB’s Method, and gradually life got less stressful. You felt more in control. You saved for a down payment, paid down your debt, or...

Personal budgeting challenges? Yeah, I’ve had a few–quite a few. I actually wonder if many people “succeed” with budgeting on their first attempt. It took years from the time that I got YNAB before I considered myself a “real budgeter.”(Actually, “real budgeter” may...

I love Christmas. The tree, decorations, stockings, presents, carols, turkey, and cranberry sauce—the whole holiday season, really. I could go on and on. I love planning it, I love doing it, I love it all. But I haven’t always been the best about sticking to a holiday...

Susan is 73 years old, living in the DC metro area, and using YNAB to float through the tricky maze of managing her money in retirement. Here’s her story. My Unexpected “Retirement”In 2010, I became “retired”—a little earlier than I had planned. After a successful...

Ah, this is 30, where my goals for the foreseeable future are 1) start wearing my retainers again and 2) find ways to make my money last so I can finally start saving up to buy a home. When it comes to the latter, I’m taking a hard look in the mirror about needs...

Almost anyone with an established budgeting habit would tell you that their budget is more than an app or an Excel spreadsheet. Budgeting is a routine, a practice, a plan for the future, a record of the past, an opportunity for growth, a sense of accomplishment, and a...

You finally found the perfect gift for your partner. You’ve snuck it through the door under your jacket and tucked it away safely in your underwear drawer. They’ll never find it. Yet, after all that tiptoeing around, it’s your budget that gives you away! We’ve got a...

Want to find more money to pay off your loans? The new Loan Planner from YNAB can help you save time and money on your loan payoff.Loans come in all flavors and sizes. Some drive you crazy, others lurk in the corner, and some seem so large they feel like you’ll never...

When it comes to handling money together, everyone needs a little bit of their own, a little bit of space.When Julie and I first got married we were broke—BROKE—and our budget was super-tight; down to the penny, we would worry. Julie knew the cost of every single item...

Have you ever been in the middle of making a purchase that you knew you could only kind of afford? Like those maternity jeans that would be so comfortable for work. Or those last minute airline tickets to see your mom. Or that unbelievably on sale Hexclad pan bundle....

This fall, my wife and I dropped our only child off at college. I knew it was going to be a tough adjustment for me. So I did what any gadget- and music-obsessed dad would do: I bought a piano and put it in their room.Now, as much as I would have liked to nab a...

Healthy relationships are built upon a foundation of good communication, mutual respect, and a shared desire to achieve life’s goals together. (And other important stuff, like sharing your fries if your significant other fails to order their own and not skipping to...

Everyone deals with excess spending a little differently: some of us opt for an intense all-out sprint approach to financial health while others plod on with slow, steady consistency like hitting a daily step goal. Whatever your intensity level, we’ve got ten ideas on...

So, you’ve decided that you need a budget and this is the year you’ll finally tackle your finances! You’ve signed up for YNAB’s free 34-day trial, then cracked open the app to get started on your shiny new personal budget. That’s when it hit you: this new YNAB...

Budget reports! Budget reports! Long live, budget reports!You want to slice and dice your financial data every which way? Check.You want a high-level view of how you’re doing? Done.You want to get down to the nitty gritty details of a particular category? Woot!You...

This post about best budgeting tips and habits was created in collaboration with Todoist—a popular digital task manager. Someone on Twitter compared our collaboration to the Avengers coming together for the first time, and we feel the same way. Without further ado:...

Looking for some financial New Year’s Resolutions to help you master your money in 2023? Here are 20 ideas to get you saving more, paying off debt, building wealth, and meeting your financial goals in the coming year. We’ve got a grab bag of ideas for bank accounts of...

Need tips for sticking to a budget? You are not alone. Figuring out how to stick to a budget is often the hardest part of budgeting!Sometimes it feels like one late-night snack run, one spunky grocery shopping adventure, one unexpected expense completely derails your...

If you’re new to YNAB, you’ve probably found yourself wondering how to stress less about money. We’re even willing to bet you might’ve tried the traditional form of budgeting before. Maybe it went something like this:You decided you needed to make some sort of...

Learn how to get a month ahead with your bills and budget for less stress, and you’ll never have to worry about late fees or overdrafting. We’ve got some ideas to get you started.Picture this: ten bills with the same due dates and instead of wallowing in despair, you...

Budgeting is all about aligning your money with your priorities—the things that matter most to you. All budgeting should be priority-based budgeting, really. And it seems like making budget decisions that reflect what you want would be the easy part, right? It’s what...

I always think that I won’t like a daily routine.Don’t hold me back, Routine! Stop trying to tie me down, Routine! I’m sorry, Routine, I just want to keep my options open, OK?But it never takes too long before I come crawling back…. Routine, I’m sorry—I’ll never stray...

If you’re trying to figure out how to budget with irregular income, we’ve got the solution for you.We can’t change the fact that you don’t know exactly when or how much you will get paid, but we can teach you to be in total control of your money, and stop stressing...

If you’re building out a budget for the first time and you’re being your best responsible self, it’s important to understand the advantage of turning those big non-monthly expenses/variable expenses/True Expenses/what-ever-you-call-them into more manageable monthly...

Article preview:Most people want to relax on vacation but spending stress tends to dampen the moodUsing the the Four Rules to plan your vacation budget results in less money stress Your dollars have more value when they’re aligned with what matters: be clear on your...

MeKenna and Kat are both on the Support team for YNAB. In addition to working for YNAB, they’re both side hustlers: freelance lighting designer (MeKenna) and freelance actor/performer (Kat). Put their suggestions for managing side hustle expenses and income in YNAB...

Trying to figure out how to pay off debt fast? Good for you. Once you commit—like, really commit—to tackling your debt, you might find that you get a little bit obsessed (in the best way!) with paying off your debt as aggressively as possible…and that’s the best way...

Looking for tips about how to save money on Amazon? The answer may surprise you (but probably not). Over the summer, I stumbled into my fiancé's Amazon Prime account to watch a movie on Prime Video one night, not knowing this one click would change my shopping habits...

What is a Sinking Fund?A sinking fund is a fixed amount of money you save each month to prepare for a non-monthly expense like car repairs, home maintenance, or a twice-a-year insurance payment. (Side note: Sinking Fund would also be a great name for a boat. I might...

Technology is amazing. We live in a world where almost anything your heart desires is a swipe, a tap, or a click away. Communication is instant, information is easily accessible, and transactions are seamless. From a life-size cutout of Danny DeVito to a last-minute...

Ask someone about personal finance and they’ll usually talk about financial planning for long-term goals like retirement accounts and investment plans. We’ve got some advice about that stuff, too. But you know what really gets people fired up? Short-term financial...

Moms have a lot of rules: Don’t run with scissors, eat dinner before dessert, no screaming at your brother, be home before curfew. There is a seemingly endless list of mom-enforced rules that pop up over the course of our childhood — and, generally speaking, a lot of...

I think the tears started when I asked “Ok, how many dollars a month is travel important to you?”.I was sitting on my living room couch next to my mom helping her get her budget set up in YNAB. My youngest brother had gotten her signed up a week or two before, but she...

School’s out, and the hunt for the perfect summer job is on for teens! As a parent, you want your pride and joy to not only make some extra money, but also gain valuable life skills. This means helping them find a lit summer job that will motivate them to break from...

In the late-1920s, Lithuania was an increasingly difficult place to live for Jewish families like my wife’s great-grandparents. They had built a stable life near the border of Germany, but as the economy faltered, anti-Semitism was on the rise.One night, at a play...

Sometimes it can seem like certain people just understand money. They have good credit. They have retirement savings. They (appear to) make smart decisions about spending and investing without agonizing. They seem to make enough money to enjoy financial security while...

Your budget is a beautiful thing—all of your passions and priorities lined up in front of you, prepared to do exactly what you tell them to do in support of the life you want to live. You get to decide how to organize your categories with a budget structured just the...

When you’re filled with the optimism of a shiny new plan—the thing that’s surely going to help you get your life together once and for all—budgeting seems like a fairly easy endeavor. You just buy a new notebook or planner, several very nice pens in different colors,...

Ah, fixed expenses. They’re like old friends. They’re reliable, predictable—you can always count on them to be there. Expensive friends, a lot of the time. Friends you’re not necessarily happy to see. Friends you wouldn’t miss if they suddenly disappeared. Friends...

A year ago, I developed some pain in my right shoulder. (Hang with me—I’m going to tie this to personal finance, I promise.) I figured I pulled a muscle so I tried some over the counter pain meds, but it just kept getting worse. I finally went to my doctor who said it...

Have you ever found yourself standing in the checkout line, mindlessly tossing a chocolate bar onto the conveyor belt because, well, cravings? Join the club—you’re among the 94% of Americans who have succumbed to the allure of impulse buying. There’s a reason why Buy...

Ready to create a simple budget template and take control of your money? In this article we’ll take you step-by-step through the process of making a budget plan that meets your needs while keeping your financial goals in sight. For the hands-on users, you’ll find a...

About Us and Why We’re HiringWe’re YNAB (“why-nab”), a financial education company with a budgeting app. We teach Four Rules that create a new relationship with money—one where you love how you spend and celebrate how you save. For more than a decade, people have been...

After years of living in Los Angeles—land of opportunity and sticker shock—my budgeting strategy of hiding from my bank account wasn’t working. I over-prioritized my love for shopping and travel, and under-prioritized my long term financial goals. It was a decade of...

By the time August rolls around, parents are divided into two clear camps: Team Send ‘Em Back Already! and Team I Wish Summer Was Forever. There’s also an overlap of parenting players that could form a third team called I Just Don’t Want to Do Back to School Stuff—but...

Oh, you didn’t know academic new year resolutions were a thing? Well…they might be? They should be. New Year’s resolutions were kind of a bust this go-around, if I’m being honest. So yeah, as of right this second, we are declaring it so.Welcome to the new new year:...

About Us and Why We’re HiringWe’re YNAB (“why-nab”), a financial education company with a budgeting app. We teach Four Rules that create a new relationship with money—one where you love how you spend and celebrate how you save. For more than a decade, people have been...

The number one rule of personal finance: you have to save money. Why? Because it makes your grandma proud. Because everyone knows you’re supposed to live on less than you make. Because it’s just the proper thing to do, right? Maybe, but those aren’t very motivating...

Okay, spoiler alert: we’ve had a little makeover. And by little, I mean… well, you’ll see.I know what you might be thinking: "Change? Why change?!" But, as we near our 20th year helping folks like you reshape their money mindsets, we thought: what if we updated our...

Two identical figures stand side by side at the far end of a dimly lit corridor, their unsettling presence sending a shiver down your spine. They beckon with an eerie aura that's both captivating and chilling, their pale forms and blue dresses a stark contrast against...

Every time I explain the credit card float to people, I feel like the bearer of bad news. There they are, happily paying their bills (for the time being) when I roll up and point out the flaw in their plan, like some self-appointed Safety Patrol of Personal...

Looking for a new money management app now that Mint is going away? What if we told you there wasn’t just a better alternative, but an opportunity to change your whole relationship with money?Even the most basic personal finance app offers a bit of control in a world...

I was a long-time Mint enthusiast. Mint saved me from the money woes of Quicken almost a decade ago. It was my trusty friend as my husband and I paid off our mortgage in less than 2 years. It helped me adjust quickly to the financial realities of moving to a very...

At YNAB, we give every dollar a job. We save money (more than you ever have before), both for fun stuff—dining out, cool vacations, concert tickets—and for the not-so-fun stuff—the unexpected expenses that seem to sneak up and derail your financial progress. Everyone...

Intuit recently announced that its popular budgeting app, Mint, will be merging with Credit Karma, a personal finance app, in early 2024—but unfortunately for Mint users, the monthly budget functionality will no longer be available. As a result, a lot of people are...

Who doesn't love a two-for-one deal? YNAB takes all the stress out of money management, helps you reach your goals, and reach personal finance nirvana. But what if YNAB could do more for you? Pray tell...I’m going to let you in on something: While YNAB is a tool for...

When my wife and I first started using YNAB in 2013, our finances were a) a mess, and b) something we didn’t know how to talk about. I was barely employed, dealing with a serious health crisis, and we were spending more than we were earning (pretty easy to do in...

You're knee-deep in wrapping paper, surrounded by a mountain of gifts that seem to multiply with each passing year. The kids tear through their presents in a frenzy of excitement, but in the chaos, you can't help but wonder: Will Suzy even remember her Tickle Me Elmo...