YNAB helped me start saving small (with the money I do have), so I can save big. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to budget, only “YOUR” way. This way, I’m not spending precious hours splitting up purchases to fit into categories that don’t make sense for my life.

I don’t think in terms of “groceries” or “entertainment,” but I can budget and allocate for a larger “Amazon” category. For example, I’ve got an “Amazon” category to track all of the purchases made on Amazon. With YNAB, I can customize labels and organize the data to make sense to ME. I used to shoehorn my spending habits according to specific categories because I thought that would make me “super organized.” It turns out, I don’t spend like a “super organized” person.

Organize in a way that makes sense to me.

By looking closer at the numbers, I’m able to notice things, see patterns, and, if needed, adjust slightly. Using YNAB has given me the space to be curious about my spending versus feeling shameful about expenditures. With the help of YNAB, I can now do this activity without feeling shame or guilt. I sit down, take a long look at my spending habits, and adjust the new year’s budget accordingly. I like to start the year off fresh with a new budget. I’ve been using YNAB for a few years now, and I absolutely credit them with making budgeting simple and, dare I say, fun(ish). Over the years, I’ve developed a better relationship with money and learned how to create a budget that works for me. Budgets are very personal, and not all of us will be successful at staying within a strict confine of predetermined categories and recommended allocation of funds. I think differently about money than my sister. My financial situation and spending habits are different from my husband’s.

Thinking this way for so long was my first mistake.īudgeting isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. If I just thought differently, followed the rules, and stuck with it (no matter what), I’d wake up one day feeling great and having a complete grasp on my finances. I used to think that I had to become a wholly different person to be more financially stable and savvy. Try YNAB for free for 34 days (no credit card required). Start this year off fresh with a budget that works for YOU. This post is brought to you by You Need A Budget.

Ynab budgeting for the year