https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 24 May 2026 06:34:34 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ynab#post-1455402 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 15:51:09 +0000 mrswin 1455402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Blue: Just start with basic categories and add things as you need/want. I had convinced myself that I needed the "perfect" set up before getting started but once I actually got things rolling I made some changes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ynab#post-1455124 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 14:42:16 +0000 DillonLion 1455124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Blue: keep it simple!! Download the app to your phone for easy tracking on the go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ynab#post-1455086 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 14:33:28 +0000 snowjewelz 1455086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I will d/l and go through the free-trial! I've always budgeted using excel, but now that I'm married, own a house, have all these new expenses, I have a hard time figuring out what our budget should be and I really want to be on track esp since we're TTC! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ynab#post-1455029 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 14:22:12 +0000 Mrs. Blue 1455029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: Any tips for making set up as smooth as possible? I've watched the first webinar, but I need to watch the others still. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ynab#post-1428380 Mon, 17 Feb 2014 06:47:44 +0000 matador84 1428380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: ahhh thank you! I guess since I just got paid on the 15th I'll take the plunge today. 3 months of no paycheck is scaring me!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ynab#post-1428225 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 23:39:08 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1428225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DillonLion: they had a category called "example budgets" so they're all here - <a href="http://www.youneedabudget.com/blog/c/example-budgets/" rel="nofollow">http://www.youneedabudget.com/blog/c/example-budgets/</a> :) have fun reading! the comments are very worthwhile to read too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ynab#post-1428220 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 23:35:58 +0000 DillonLion 1428220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: perfect, thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ynab#post-1428218 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 23:33:12 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1428218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DillonLion: it's on the ynab blog (not forums)! they were doing a series last year, but the recent blog posts haven't been about any real budgets.. let me hunt some down for you... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ynab#post-1428217 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 23:31:57 +0000 DillonLion 1428217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: we have been using ynab this minth for the first time and loving it. Going to check out those real budgets on the ynab forums! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ynab#post-1428214 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 23:31:08 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1428214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@matador84: the setup is the hardest, most time consuming part. once you get that down, it becomes an invaluable tool! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ynab#post-1428213 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 23:30:07 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1428213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@matador84: just saw this thread, and my friend emailed me the other day asking the exact same thing.... so i thought i'd copy and paste what i wrote him:</p> <p> 1. it tracks roll overs, which is huge! for example, if i overspend in a certain category that month, i can choose to have it deduct from next month's budgeted amount. or if i underspend, whatever i didn't use will roll over into next month.</p> <p>2. it syncs with an iphone/android app (the app is free) - so you can check how much is left in your budgeted category at any time! for example: i want to buy starbucks.. i do a quick check on my phone for how much is left in my "eating out" category. i see that there's only $5 left... do i really want to spend the remaining amount on starbucks or do i want to save it for something else? ynab allows you to think twice before making purchases.</p> <p>3. it's fluid - it accounts for how life changes month by month. some months you'll need to eat out more because of birthdays, celebrations, etc. other months you can reign it in. say you usually budget $500 for eating out and $500 for groceries. if you think you'll eat out more that month just offset the ratio and consider budgeting $700 for eating out and $300 for groceries. food is still food - if you eat out more, it would make sense that your grocery budget would decrease, no? and if you overspend on BOTH, then take money from a different category that isn't being used as much that month (maybe shopping? entertainment? etc) </p> <p>4. charts, graphs, reports - if you want a visual, it's all there in the program so you can better understand your spending habits.</p> <p>5. manual input - i think this is a pro. it doesn't automatically sync your accounts like mint does, and that's a good thing because you're forced to input stuff yourself and it keeps you accountable. if you don't want to login to all your accounts and log every line item, you can download your statements and import it. still somewhat manual and better than auto-syncing.</p> <p>6. love the ynab philosophy (the 4 rules): <a href="http://www.youneedabudget.com/method" rel="nofollow">http://www.youneedabudget.com/method</a></p> <p>7. ability to plan ahead and never worry about unexpected expenses again - this is stuff like annual bills. for example, our car insurance is $1400/year. i have a category for it and divide $1400 by 12... so i put $115/month to "save up" for it. since ynab tracks roll overs, the $115 will roll over month over month. by the time next year hits.. we will already have all $1400 sitting there ready to go. </p> <p>i never said the bullet points were all going to be concise. ;)<br /> ok these are a lot to help get you started. i see no CON's with ynab... it's the best budgeting tool i have ever used. i read their blog a lot to help keep us focused and inspired. sometimes people submit their real budgets (they keep everyone anonymous), and then they break it apart to see how the budget can be improved. i've gotten lots of great tips from there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ynab#post-1428210 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 23:28:26 +0000 mrswin 1428210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@matador84: I have it and am totally in love with it. It really makes so much more sense when you do the classes! Also the forums are great for finding answers to some more unique situations. Start with the classes and go from there. Feel free to wall me if you have more specific questions </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ynab#post-1427226 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 09:36:20 +0000 matador84 1427226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ok....I am still trying to take the plunge for buying YNAB. Someone convince me it is worth the $60! I did the free trial like way back when...and I totally didn't get it. I feel like a dummy! </p> <p>I haven't done classes yet (we don't have any debt except our mortgage) but I did the 9 steps to YNAB emails. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ynab#post-1375578 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 12:46:41 +0000 jhd 1375578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@matador84: it has been wonderful for us! we have been using it for a year &amp; it has changed the way we look at our money &amp; budget. it may take some time to get used to but it's worth it! DH did the free classes like @mrswin: suggested. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ynab#post-1375547 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 12:13:34 +0000 mrswin 1375547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@matador84: I love it! It has made a huge difference in our approach to money. We have mad progress with some debt we were dealing with but it has also helped with accountability. I found it really easy to use after watching/doing the free classes (really important). It is an active form of money management as opposed to a lot of other programs which are retrospective. Let me know if you have any specific questions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ynab#post-1375502 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 11:39:51 +0000 matador84 1375502@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Tell me if it was worth it to you and why. DH and I have separate bank accounts, but a joint account we just for our son and daycare expenses. We were splitting all bills for years, but then the past few months DH was paying bills and I was putting $ in savings.</p> <p>I'm about to go on maternity leave and not get a paycheck for 2-3 months....so we are really trying to buckle down and it is stressing me out! </p>