my YNAB trial update

its_maths_not_magic

OK, so I have been trialing YNAB (you need a budget) and thought I would share my thoughts for anyone thinking of using it. I don't work for YNAB, nor am I getting anything from this review. I just know how helpful it is to me keeping my budget tip top.

To sum my thoughts up so far- :lovethoug

I've taken three of their online learning webinars and am getting to grips with this amazing software. Things I love about YNAB compared to just a normal spreadsheet.

1. The layout allows you to 'give every pound a job' so you can see exactly where every pound needs to go. When you enter your wages, you can physically see what happens when you move £££ around.
2. Its flexible enough to be changed when needed, for example, I overspent on groceries by £1.84 and it was easy to reconcile that in a two clicks. I can see easily that there is a problem and can fix it anyway I see fit, either by releasing money from another category or rolling it over in next week's pay.
3. The program really utilises the money you have on you, and allows you to budget with that rather than trying to forecast what you think you're going to have.
4. It allows you to schedule all regular payments. This is great for two main reasons, one - you don't have to spend much time re-entering the same stuff over and over, and two - you can put all your bills in so you can remember all those big yearly bills easily. For example, my car tax is due at the end of the month so I can remind myself to schedule a small payment towards it each week. I can see this being brilliant for xmas as well.
5. It syncs with apps on android/iphones. This means it can be updated on the go and rather than being out and looking at your bank balance to decide on spending (which can be misleading as sometimes my bank will not put through purchases for a day or two). Instead, you know exactly how much money you have to spend on any given category.

Are there any cons? Well only one small niggle. It uses a monthly budget wheras we get paid weekly. To get around this, I simply created four lots of weekly expenses and hide the weeks that aren't being used. The program is flexible enough to cope with any sort of pay cycle really.

So there you have it. I'm biting the bullet and buying it next week and am actually looking forward to getting paid just to use it again! Brilliant, brilliant program.

jaxsmar

I've also has a look at this site and signed up to webinars guided learning (after I messed up on the time differences) Was impressed but still playing around with it.

its_maths_not_magic

The courses are really useful. When you go to sign up for one, you can change the time to display your time, rather than US EST - I think there is a link at the top of the page for that. Just to let you know : ). Mind you, I did that and still managed to get it wrong! lol.

~Beanie~

I've been using it for just over a month now, still can't believe that there was actually money left in my bank account the day before payday, that never happens usually!!

StanwithaPlan

I have had a good look and will be signing up as soon as I can!

I scanned in my college enrollment info at work today so I can get a free copy...problem is I was so busy today I forgot to email it to myself at home so it will have to wait till next week...doh!

wiggly

I love it too. I have found out that I have DDs I never accounted for before, and that I spend WAY too much money on food. For 3 of us.

I didn't manage a surplus last month because of the bank holiday and payday etc (payday was early, so it looked better than it was) but this month I am aiming for a surplus.

No idea how I can get to be buffered though, but right now I have the best plan I've ever had because of this software and I feel totally in control. I love that YNAB is normally more accurate than my bank is