I know that we're not supposed to do this, but I want to understand what the risks are if I do it anyway:

Since I'm a newb on my first month, I couldn't wait for my actual paycheck to start using and learning YNAB. So I just created an un-cleared transaction of my paycheck amount and worked with that to create my initial budget.

Now I'm getting impatient again. I don't get paid again until 29-Nov. But I'm debating what will happen if I do this again.

Is the risk that I'm adding more money to the balance than I actually have? Because that would be a legit concern, but I'm sure I can be responsible here.

One reason I'm getting impatient is because my November budget is not complete due to not having that other paycheck. I'd like to plan how those $$ will get allocated and see it visually.

Is this a bad idea?

I’m not sure exactly how to phrase this, but for many of my bills I have used the “Refill” goal. The app allows me to set a date that I need to refill the category by, but it doesn’t seem to be calculating how much I should set aside based on that date. As an example, I have bills due on 12/1, but because the refill goal is set for each month, YNAB is giving me the whole month of December to save up for those bills. I imagine once I’m 30 days ahead that won’t be a factor, but as of right now I don’t even have enough transactions to know the age of my money.

My questions are:

Once I’m 30 days ahead, will this cease to be an issue? I think yes, but would love clarification.
Is this happening because I should be using a different goal type?
If the goal type is not the issue, is there a different solution or workaround?
Can someone help me understand why a target day each month is able to be selected if it doesn’t make a difference in how the app functions? I mean that in a genuine way. I think understanding the role that the date-selection option serves might improve the ways I use and take advantage of the app’s features. I know it might be a good place for a “due-date reminder”, but I’m curious if there’s a more functional reason for that feature.

Thank you in advance for any help and guidance!

Hi there! New EV owner here. I know maintenance costs are cheaper for EVs, so I'm wondering how my budget for maintenance each month should change. For my 10-year old ICE vehicle, I was setting aside $60 per month and that was more than enough.

The only metric I found online for EV maintenance costs is $0.06/mile driven, which for me would be about $50. But I also saw that EVs tend to cost a third of what ICE vehicles cost to maintain, so that would come to only $20/month for me.

If you're an EV owner, how much do you set aside each month for maintenance?

(Maintenance = scheduled maintenance, anticipation of repairs, etc. Not including insurance, registration fees, electricity cost, etc. I have separate categories for those)

Would be so great to have the running balance feature on the mobile app version. I find that is invaluable for projecting my accounts and making sure I don’t run my checking account into overdraft. I want as a little money in there as possible as it doesn’t gain interest. Anybody know if viewing running balance on mobile is a feature that I’m just missing?

Hello! I'm new to YNAB and am really loving it so far, I really think I'm getting the hang of it and actually understanding it. One thing I'm just curious about is having a negative amount in the assigned column for one of my credit cards. I did read this article, which was helpful, but November is my first month with YNAB. So I guess I'm not sure how it could be negative? Does the $116.50 just represent money that was spent on the CC which has not been funded by RTA/cash?

https://preview.redd.it/p2kofxlzvv1e1.png?width=590&format=png&auto=webp&s=8fef898a320adc5136047fceccca5da7838c5dd2

Hi everyone. This is a follow up I had to an earlier question. For now I have extra money in hand, and so I started filling up some of my fixed expenses(rent, utilities, etc.) into their respective December buckets. This left me with let's say $300 in reserve in November, and the top of the page shows "$0.00 All Money Assigned" for November (and December and into the future). But, I then decided to add $25 more to the groceries bucket *for November*, with the expectation that the $25 overage would show up at the top of the screen *for November*. At which point I would then cover that overage by transferring that $25 from that $300 I have in reserve, and all is well, right? But the overage does not show up at the top of November, it shows up in December. Which I just don't understand. Does this mean I need to take $25 out of one of my December buckets to cover that overage instead of the money I have in reserve in November? I can't wrap my head around this one!

I have noticed since the descriptions of the targets changed a while back, and I select "set aside another..." If i spend what i have set aside it turns yellow. Is there a way for it to only be yellow if I haven't assigned the target amount yet that month?

UPDATE: solved!! It came from RTA in next month, resulting in a negative. Wish it would make this month’s negative instead!

——-

I’ve had this happen a few times and not sure if I’m just doing something wrong. This morning, I went through and categorized 12 transactions. One category was overspent by about $10. I selected the category and then selected the yellow “cover overspending” button and then it was covered. But where did that money come from? I didn’t choose a category for it to come from and I didn’t have anything in RTA. I’ve had this happen before and can’t figure out which envelope it took from. Can I go back and undo that?

Hello,

I'm in the process of buying a house.

I need to pay - Solicitors (lawyers), Estate agents (realtors), Building Surveyors....

I have a category in my budget called "house shopping" it has a monthly fill up to 100...

I'm wondering how do you and in turn should I manage this purchase.. do you create a new category and itemise line by line or should I just keep using "house shopping" just put more money into it?

Reason I'm asking because at the end of the day once all is said and done I will be removing all the new categories and it always asks where should I put the expense - that will likely end up in "House shopping"

Thanks!

I have a US Bank Rewards+ card that gives me 5% on two categories I select (I pick utilities and cell phone). I don't want to think about the tricks I have to do with YNAB to get it to adjust things. I know if I just change the account from a credit card account to a checking account this problem will go away. (Please don't lecture me on how easy it is to adjust things; I don't want the credit card tracking feature, I have bills hit this card and I immediately pay it off as soon as they all clear).

So the last bill for the month hit today. I've scheduled a bank payment to go out tomorrow and it'll clear by the end of the 21st. On the 22nd I will reconcile it with the $0 balance. Then I'm thinking I'd unlink the account with YNAB and then mark it Closed. Then I want to add it back as a Checking account and link it again. Is this the cleanest way to accomplish this?

Side note: I'm aware that some rewards cards let me redeem the amount to a bank account. US Bank credit cards will only let me redeem it to a US Bank checking/savings/moneymarket. I don't want any of these accounts as they charge for them or require hoops (direct deposit, etc.), and I don't want such an account. For my Citi DoubleCash I do redeem the rewards to my credit union account.

Just a silly post, but after the announcement about AI for payees, I was curious and asked AI to tell me how YNAB could better leverage AI. Some amusing but also interesting answers. I also noticed that AI didn't suggest using AI to clean up payees.

YNAB (You Need A Budget) is already a highly effective budgeting tool, but integrating AI could take the user experience and functionality to the next level. Here are some ways YNAB could leverage AI to improve the product:

1. Automated Insights and Recommendations

• Spending Trends Analysis:

• AI could analyze spending patterns over time and offer personalized insights, like identifying unnecessary subscriptions or suggesting savings opportunities.

• Example: “You spent $200 more on dining out this month compared to last month. Consider reallocating your dining-out budget or limiting outings to twice a week.”

• Budget Optimization:

• AI could recommend budget adjustments based on historical data, upcoming bills, and goals.

• Example: “Based on your spending habits, you might want to increase your grocery budget by $50 this month.”

2. Predictive Forecasting

• Cash Flow Predictions:

• AI could forecast future balances based on historical trends and scheduled transactions, helping users anticipate cash flow issues before they occur.

• Example: “Your current spending pattern suggests you might dip below your emergency fund target next month.”

• Goal Achievement Projections:

• AI could show users how long it will take to achieve financial goals (e.g., paying off debt or saving for a trip) based on their current progress and spending habits.

3. Smart Categorization and Automation

• Automatic Categorization:

• Using machine learning, YNAB could automatically categorize transactions more accurately, learning from user adjustments over time.

• Smart Rules for Recurring Expenses:

• AI could detect recurring expenses or patterns and suggest budget rules for them.

• Example: “This $9.99 Spotify charge occurs monthly. Would you like to create a recurring budget category for it?”

4. Expense Benchmarking

• Peer Comparisons:

• Anonymized AI analysis could show how a user’s spending compares to others in similar demographic groups or locations.

• Example: “Your grocery spending is 15% higher than the average in your area. Consider exploring these cost-saving tips.”

5. Natural Language Queries

• Conversational Budgeting Assistant:

• Users could ask questions like:

• “How much can I spend on dining out this weekend?”

• “Will I have enough to cover my trip in December if I keep spending like this?”

• AI would provide answers based on real-time data and budget allocations.

6. Automated Debt Payoff Strategies

• Custom Debt Plans:

• AI could create tailored debt repayment strategies, such as the snowball or avalanche method, based on user inputs.

• Example: “By paying an extra $100 toward your credit card balance this month, you can reduce interest payments by $200 over the next year.”

7. Savings Goals Enhancements

• Dynamic Savings Suggestions:

• AI could suggest how much to save weekly or monthly to meet specific goals faster.

• Example: “If you save $150 more each month, you’ll reach your vacation fund goal 3 months earlier.”

• Round-Up Savings:

• Automatically suggest transferring round-ups from transactions into savings goals.

8. Fraud Detection and Alerts

• Transaction Anomalies:

• AI could flag unusual spending patterns that might indicate fraud or errors.

• Example: “This $1,200 transaction at ‘XYZ Store’ is much higher than your typical spending. Is this correct?”

9. Emotional and Behavioral Nudges

• Encouragement and Motivation:

• AI could send motivational messages or warnings based on spending behavior.

• Example: “Great job staying under budget this week! Keep it up to meet your savings goal.”

• Gentle Alerts:

• Instead of harsh notifications, use AI to send encouraging messages when budgets are exceeded.

• Example: “Looks like you went over your dining-out budget this month. Want to adjust next month’s budget or try meal planning?”

10. Financial Education Integration

• Personalized Learning:

• AI could recommend articles, videos, or tips based on user habits and goals.

• Example: “You’ve started a retirement fund. Here’s a guide to maximize your savings with tax benefits.”

11. Integration with Other Platforms

• Smart Calendar Integration:

• AI could sync with calendars and predict spending needs for upcoming events (e.g., birthdays, vacations).

• Example: “You have a vacation planned in two weeks. Do you want to create a temporary travel budget?”

• Investment Tracking and Insights:

• AI could link with investment accounts and provide insights into how current spending habits might impact long-term financial goals.

12. Enhanced Reports and Visualizations

• Dynamic Reports:

• AI could generate more detailed, interactive reports tailored to user questions or concerns.

• Example: “Show me my spending by category compared to the last six months.”

• Gamified Progress Tracking:

• Use AI to create gamified experiences, like awarding badges for staying under budget or achieving savings milestones.

13. Crisis Response Features

• Emergency Budgeting Help:

• AI could create a crisis budget in real-time based on reduced income or unexpected expenses.

• Example: “You’ve lost $500 in income this month. Here’s a suggested budget adjustment.”

14. Smarter Onboarding

• Tailored Setup:

• AI could analyze initial financial inputs and suggest the best budget structure for new users.

Why This Matters:

Leveraging AI could make YNAB more intuitive, proactive, and tailored to individual needs, helping users better manage their finances with less effort. It can also enhance customer retention by offering advanced features that set it apart from competitors.

Would you like specific details on how these features could be implemented?

It was three in the morning when I woke up and while laying in bed, I thought that a pizza would be a fun thing to have. Kept thinking this a few minutes, went trought the "no" "ok maybe this time and ok i know this will happen again until I can actually stop this bad habit" "ok whatever yolo" phases of trying to justify this

Navigated to the checkout, still thinking that I actually shouldn't do it, knowing that I can't afford it now. Before pressing the 'Order' button, I opened YNAB, scrolled through my categories, closed the page and went to eat something that I had available.

Now, time to continue this whenever I'm wanting to buy something. And fail. And again. Ugh.

Rec’d another complimentary 30 day feee trial so thought I’d try to wrap my head around it.

•How many actual bank accounts do you typically have? I have a checking & savings - but how does one actually keep their savings, emergency fund, vacation fund, etc. all separate?

•What does the age of money mean?

•I get that w YNAB you only allocate what money you have on hand…but what happens when I know that in Feb I have a membership fee due but we are currently in Nov - how do I plan for that in YNAB?

We have an account that has our savings, checking and credit card accounts linked to them. Whenever we pay our CC out of our checking, YNAB seems to freak out and not understand that this was a simple payment and it ends up showing it in two places.

Does anyone have any tips on how to handle this?

One of the core principles of YNAB is that you shouldn't care where your money is physically—you put the money in its envelope and call it a day.

With this system, how can I feel confident knowing that I have enough to cover my credit card balance (multiple cards) in my checking account if my budget has money allocated in it from my savings too?

The only solution I have come up with is to create a category group called "Savings" and make sure that the savings account and savings group match at all times.

I was also just considering adding my savings account as a tracking account instead to avoid all this mess.

This adds so much work and friction to YNAB, and I was wondering if anyone has any better ideas...

I have $3000 in crypto in an unlinked tracking account. I took $1000 out and transferred it to my on-budget checking account. I then immediately transferred the money to my brokerage account, which is another tracking account. When I enter a "transfer to: Bank account" outflow from my crypto account, I see the inflow in my bank account, however, it wants to me to categorize the transaction even though the bank account is a middle man between the crypto account and the brokerage account. I have a "savings" category, and I selected that, and then I made another to/from transfer from my bank account to my brokerage account. Doesn't this create an issue where the program thinks I saved more than I did? All I'm really doing is moving money from one tracking account to another, but because I have the middle man of my on-budget checking account, it is forcing me to categorize the money, then spend it when transfer it out. I tested out what would've happened if I'd just sent from my tracking crypto account to my tracking brokerage account, and it doesn't make me categorize anything.

In short, I don't want to categorize it when it goes on budget because I'm not saving anything additional. It's just a middle man account. What do I do?

The removal of numerous European institutions significantly undermines the value of the service for European users. Despite this reduction in content, the subscription price remains identical to that in the US, where the service offers a more comprehensive experience. This disparity highlights a lack of fairness and respect for European customers, who are expected to pay the same price for a diminished product.

I wanted to share the way I like to organize and categorize. I've been a YNAB user for about a year and was a Minter for 12 years before this. I feel confident in my YNABbing skills and have been able to use this tool in some meaningful ways. I hope some out there may find these picture helpful or inspiring.

https://preview.redd.it/gczi2pl5fp1e1.jpg?width=508&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=87c8c53479b6e8374d2d3c9d6bf837d122758065

https://preview.redd.it/6e5e4vl5fp1e1.jpg?width=528&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8bdaf1837fc6d14524879d17e490cbe1892a936f

https://preview.redd.it/lqqrstl5fp1e1.jpg?width=598&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=78c17eeb1641db100d1f739cb50ba430182aed79

As the title says, I’ve been manually logging transactions and keeping track of clearing them and reconciling accounts etc. However, I’m considering switching to linked accounts. Any downstream effects or things I should do in advance? What if merchants come in differently than I’ve labeled them previously? It’s not much work for me to do this manually. Do others continue to do so or do you prefer linked accounts?

Fan fest is coming to my city in 2025 and I would love to go but was a little riled by the price. However the venue is beautiful, looks like a all day event, includes 1 or 2 meals, and a bunch of talks or workshops I think?... I'm not sure what I would learn from the talks because I've been using ynab for about 5 years.

Just curious if anyone has gone and what it was like. Thanks.

Hi all - been using YNAB religiously for 3 years and I love it. The format I've been using has worked for a while, but I'm at a place now where I want to add more detail without going overboard.

For example, I want to understand my family's spending habits - not only how much we spend on dining out, but how much we spend on workday lunch versus takeout dinner, etc. I want a clearer idea of exactly where our money goes so I can better understand where we can adapt our behavior to accommodate our income.

That said, I want to put the money into general buckets. I want to know how much I'm spending on workday lunch, but I don't need to fund it separately from the rest of dining out. How are others managing this? Are you leaving comments for more detail? Any advice would be appreciated!

EDIT

Appreciate all the help, but I'm going to try excel instead. This is too confusing for someone of my intelligence level. I just don't have the knowledge or skillset required to use something like this, even though the end product is clearly more beneficial than excel.

Thank you to everyone, I seriously appreciate the help and wish I could have made better use of it.

The latest update mentions a feature that I love the idea of. The shortcut to adding transactions. Unfortunately it isn't available on android and makes no mention of if it ever will be. This isn't the first time this has occurred either. Why does YNAB treat the largest phone OS in the world like a second class citizen? I pay them the same fees that apple customers do. I expect parity.

Trying to add my bank account.

When I add the one-time password, it tells me to hang-tight then eventually goes back to the one-time password entry.

Super frustrating that I can't even get through the set-up.

What other options do I have to use if I can't use this one?

Hi again, before starting YNAB I was manually writing in a calendar of what bills were due when and then crossing off that bill once paid. How do you all keep track of upcoming bills and that they have been paid?

Hello!

Just started my YNAB account to help prevent the lifestyle creep I’ve been experiencing for the last year.

Any general tips and advice for someone brand new to the software? Anything you wish you knew when you started? Any great organizational tips?

Thank youuuuu 💫

I’ve been using YNAB for several years now but something I still feel I have not got a full grasp on is handling grocery shopping. At the moment it’s just a fixed amount per month and it I feel I have the amount set aside about right since I usually end the month with a small amount still left in the category although it is a little tight towards the end of the month.

Generally I will do a big shop on a Monday, a smaller top up shop before the weekend usually for those items with short expiry date that don’t last a week, with occasional trips for items that are needed urgently, usually bread and milk. My wife doesn’t YNAB but will buy grocery items for her own use throughout the week too.

For a while I was setting a weekly target instead but it made end of the month very awkward on months where the day only occurred four times and I realised that a month only varies by up to three days but the monthly assigned amount would be reduced quite substantially.

I’m starting to think that using a single category might not be the best way to handle this. Hannah from YNAB in a recent video mentioned how she will put each weekly shop in its own category instead but that sounds like a little too much work.

Does anyone else deal with a similar shopping schedule in an unconventional manner that I can steal?

I’m about to finish up my first month using YNAB. Figuring out how much I’m spending in each category has been tricky for expenses like groceries and other non-fixed expenses. It is in my assumption that as the months go by, my history makes each of my categories total expenses more and more accurate (for assigning purposes).

Can I expect then to have a better “feel” for what I can afford the more data I collect?

* means it's more of a want than a need