I've just signed up for YNAB. It's the middle of the month so I know things will be a little off this month, but how long before you actually felt you were using it he right way and only budgeting/spending what you had?
Right now, I feel like I'm just recording transactions and it'll take a few months to really learn how to use it.
honeydew / 7504 posts
A few months, I think. But once you get it, it really clicks and helps SO much!
nectarine / 2750 posts
@littlebug: I think I will love it. I sat in on two webinars this morning and it really helped!
hostess / cantaloupe / 6486 posts
I've been using it consistently for about a month and am finally feeling like I know what I'm doing a little. I think it'll be a little longer before I'm super confident with it. But I'm generally pretty slow with most technology. My brain just struggles with that!
nectarine / 2433 posts
@tlcbaby: At least a full month before I felt like I was getting it and then probably about 3 months before I felt like we were using it to its full advantage. It is a completely different way to think about money and budgeting!
bananas / 9229 posts
I signed up for a trial yesterday and have no idea what I'm doing. I don't have any past transactions - just starting balances??
nectarine / 2750 posts
@LindsayInNY: Yes - do not put in your past transactions. That will make it more confusing. Because you are really only budgeting the money you actually have to pay for things you need to do with that money. I sat in on two webinars yesterday and it really, really helped me understand it a little better.
bananas / 9229 posts
@tlcbaby: So should I just remove them or something? I need to watch some webinars because I don't know how to start with this
nectarine / 2750 posts
@LindsayInNY: Leave the accounts you imported and budget the available money to the categories you know you still need for the month. I had a certain amount available when I added my accounts and budgeted it toward groceries, mortgage, etc that haven't been paid yet this month. After the first day, your transactions will start importing and it'll make more sense.
Definitely read the user guide and attend the webinars!
bananas / 9229 posts
@tlcbaby: So add in future transactions that will be occurring between now and the end of the month? I'm so confused by this!
nectarine / 2750 posts
@LindsayInNY: I think it'll only seem weird the first month, but, yes. Only add in what occurs after you set it up. And I just linked my accounts so transactions import automatically. Next month, you'll get a full picture.
bananas / 9229 posts
@tlcbaby: More questions... I have transactions in my checking account now but they're not showing up in YNAB (I just checked the app). I also signed up for a couple webinars...
nectarine / 2750 posts
@LindsayInNY: I might be wrong because I am new to it as well, but I think you have to import them on the desktop before they show up in the app. Someone else may know better than me, though?
bananas / 9229 posts
@tlcbaby: Oh hmm. I thought they automatically came in. I'll check when I get to work!
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
It did take me at least 2 months. The first month was just getting all the information right; and the second month was learning the lingo/method like budgeting to zero and what not. Hang in there! I love it now!
bananas / 9229 posts
@snowjewelz: Do you ignore your bank account balance and focus more on what's in YNAB?
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
@LindsayInNY: I link all my accounts so everything is updated in real time? I think the trick I learned was to back date YNAB so it pulls more information from the bank for previous periods so you're not just starting out with nothing. I searched a ton of YNAB's reddit threads.. I found it to be super useful!
bananas / 9229 posts
@snowjewelz: Ohhh, maybe that's what I need to do! Lemme look into that...
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
@LindsayInNY: Let me know if you need help.. I'll try to remember what I did!
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