YNAB - Is it worth paying for after the free trial?

AleMrsT

I signed up yesterday to you need a budget after seeing people talking about it, however, I just can't get my head around it. Its so confusing!! Ive still got 'budgeted' money in my budget, after transferring it it doesnt change the 'budget' bit?! I think I'm doing it all wrong.

Pixie5740

Have you signed up to any of the YNAB webinars (during every webinar there's the opportunity to win a YNAB licence)? If you're not able to join the webinars you can view the tutorials on YouTube. Once you've done the webinars or YouTube tutorials for the 4 YNAB rules it will all become much clearer.

I've been using YNAB since April and I love it. I paid about £35 for my licence and it has more than paid for itself through improved budgeting. My budgets were always a bit woolly and only dealt with the month in question before. Now I have the money sitting my account to pay for Christmas.

axean

I'd say yes.

"Budgeting" is difficult at first, but understanding where your money goes should save you a lot of money in the long run. There is a lot of help available on the main website, and loads of Youtube videos.

So stick with it, it's more than worth it.

If anyone reading this thread is looking to buy it then it's worth noting that it's normally possible to get YNAB cheaply around Christmas. The software is sold on the 'Steam' website, and Steam has big a Christmas sale. During the sale it's usually 50% off for a week, but for one day during the sale it's 75% off. That means it'll cost £7.49 for one day. So create a Steam Account, go to the 'store page' for YNAB URL="http://store.steampowered.com/app/227320"]link[/URL. On the Store Page, while logged in, there is a button named 'Wishlist' click on 'Wishlist' and you'll be notified when it goes on sale. The notification will happen when it's 50% off, and you'll have to visit the site every day for the 'flash sale' at 75%. You'll have a version that is managed by steam, and you'll have to install it initially using steam. But then you can get your key from the software reinstall it without steam.
(Students get a free 1 year (renewable) licence)

Actually I can make things easier. I'll post here when it goes to 75% off.

curiousralphy

If you're not sure whether you want it or not yet I've read that you can email them via their website and they're happy to give you an extra month or so to try it out.

kkgree1

I'm currently mid-trial with YNAB and really starting to enjoy using it.

It does take a while to get used to it and you're meant to amend your budget figures as you go along apparently which is what I've been doing.

The one thing I can't get to grips with yet is reconciling accounts but I have left things as they are. I really like the fact you can budget for forthcoming months which you can't do easily with our current software. Also the reports look great too.

Thanks curiousralphy for suggestion about emailing them if you want to trial another month. I've all for signing up but trying to convince my hubby to use anything other than MS Money is another matter so an extra month would be useful!

getmore4less

kkgree1 wrote: »

I'm currently mid-trial with YNAB and really starting to enjoy using it.

It does take a while to get used to it and you're meant to amend your budget figures as you go along apparently which is what I've been doing.

The one thing I can't get to grips with yet is reconciling accounts but I have left things as they are. I really like the fact you can budget for forthcoming months which you can't do easily with our current software. Also the reports look great too.

Thanks curiousralphy for suggestion about emailing them if you want to trial another month. I've all for signing up but trying to convince my hubby to use anything other than MS Money is another matter so an extra month would be useful!

MSMoney(ifthat is your current software) does forward budgeting and predictive cash flows better than most other software packages if you use the budgeting features.

knack92

YNAB is reduced to £7.49 on Steam for the next 22 hours.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/227320/

danjourno

I came on MSE to post that discount, but you beat me to it :beer:
Ive been using YNAB for over a year now and its the best budgeting solution by far! Totally takes the stress out of it and helps me put money aside without realising it. I no longer look at the amount of money in my bank account. I just look at the budget.

copperjar

What luck! Have been using the free trial for a few weeks now and was about to buy it! Thanks for the heads up on the discount!

A real MSE treat that, thank you

YORKSHIRELASS

How annoying!! I have missed the offer so the current price is £24.99. Can anyone tell me if they use YNAB on their kindle fire? Amazon tells me that the app is not compatable with my device.

AleMrsT

Damn, I missed the £7.49 offer!! I've deleted the app now, I'd filled it in all wrong and couldnt figure out how to correct it, I'd been putting the figures in for November, when in fact end of Novembers pay was for bills in December, so then when it came to December, I had no income to add.... Eeek. So I got mad with it and just uninstalled it!!
I'm thinking of setting up a spreadsheet instead but I don't even know where to start with it, all of the templates are American dollars. YNAB seems really confusing to me, I think I need a RL person who's used it to sit and go through it with me.