There is a wide variety of budgeting applications, ranging from free programs that provide customers with a basic expenditure summary to premium subscription-based applications that offer more comprehensive functionality.
With so many alternatives, there’s a budgeting app for all, regardless of their level of expertise.
Think about what you need from a budgeting tool before downloading one of the many free ones available. Consider if you only need assistance keeping track of the money flowing in and leaving out of your business or whether you need something more comprehensive. You might benefit from downloading an app that not only helps you cut down on your expenses but also helps you save cash and puts you on the path to paying off your debt more quickly.
If this describes you, the (YNAB) You Need A Budget application is for you.
What is YNAB?
Jesse Mecham, a CPA, founded YNAB to assist him and his family copes with financial difficulties. They devised a budgeting program that worked for them and their needs. It was so successful that it was made available to the broader public.
In addition to tracking your income and spending, YNAB also includes educational resources to assist you in addressing the underlying reasons for your financial difficulties. It’s a great example of a single-purpose program that excels at what it does. Many smartphone and desktop devices are supported by this budgeting software. YNAB delivers more than just a tool to its users; the company’s basic belief is that “every dollar has a job.”
This application may seem familiar to anybody who has tried zero-based budgeting programs before, whether for buying a vehicle or a home or just in case.
How to start using YNAB?
Go to the YNAB website or install their application on your smartphone to get started.
Simply click the “Start free trial” button to create an account. Before continuing, you must provide both an email id and a passcode. To use the service, you will be required to accept the terms of service as well as the privacy policy; however, the organization does provide guarantees that your data will be kept secure.
You may begin setting objectives and creating your profile as soon as you log in. When you initially join up, you may let the app know whether you and your partner are working on a budget together.
How do YNAB works?
The Four Rules of YNAB are the foundational principles that will assist you in living within your limitations. If you execute these methods, you will not only be able to save money more effectively, but you will also be able to pay your debt, and, more importantly, you will no longer have to live paycheck to paycheck.
- Rule number one is, “Every dollar should have a job.” Every single dollar needs to be put toward a certain purchase. It is better to plan your purchasing than just squandering your money on whatever crosses your path.
- Rule number two is to “Embrace Your True Priorities.” It’s common for individuals to state they have unexpected costs, such as birthdays, vacations, and holidays. But the fact is that plenty of expenditures should have been planned for months or even years in advance. YNAB recommends you set aside money each month to cover these costs rather than trying to pay all at once.
- Rule number three is to “Roll With the Punches.” Certain costs will take you by surprise. Additionally, there will be months when you overspent in some areas. When anything like this occurs, YNAB will urge you to simply transfer money from one area to the next and keep on with your budgeting. Do not allow temporary obstacles to derail your progress; instead, focus on maintaining your forward momentum. Do not allow temporary obstacles to derail your progress; instead, focus on maintaining your forward momentum.
- Rule number four is to “Age Your Money.” If you spend more money than you gained the previous month, you will be able to carry over some of the revenue from this month into the subsequent 30 days. You won’t be as stressed when there are interruptions in your financial flow. To achieve the goal of “aging your money,” it is necessary to make purchases with cash at least 1 month old.
How much can you save using YNAB?
YNAB has reported that they saved more than $6,000 during their first year while using the program after claiming to have saved $600 in just the first two months while using the service.
Pros and Cons
Here are some Pros and Cons of YNAB
Pros:
- YNAB user interface is straightforward, making it easy for anybody to use, regardless of their computer skills or prior experience with budgeting software.
- Because YNAB works with so many different banks, you may be able to save time by not having to repeatedly enter your transactions.
- YNAB comes bundled with approximately 50 different courses that may assist you in learning about managing money while using the software to create a budget, in addition to free seminars.
- Your money will be refunded if you don’t like it after using it for 30 days.
- Customer support at YNAB has speedy response times and a thorough knowledge base.
Cons:
- All of your money should be allocated to YNAB per month. Anyone whose income fluctuates may find it difficult to use this tool.
- Customers may find it inconvenient as YNAB does not have a feature that allows them to monitor their investments, a major criticism against the program.
- Despite its user-friendly interface, YNAB has its unique budgeting approach. This implies that it could take some consumers some effort to get acclimated to the program, and others may abandon it out of irritation before they’ve completely explored its capabilities.
- YNAB is free for the first 34 days but costs $14.99 per month or $98.99 per year.
Final Review of YNAB
YNAB, which is budgeting software, will assist you if you are dedicated to bettering your financial status. Be aware that the interface design of YNAB might not be as user-friendly as those of other budgeting application software; therefore, you could find that you need some time to get acclimated to YNAB. A trial version of YNAB allows you to see whether the software is right for you for 34 days before paying a penny.
FAQs
Is YNAB’s Direct Import service available in Europe?
For the time being, no. YNAB, on the other hand, indicated in February 2021 that it aimed to provide Direct Import assistance to entire Europe as soon as possible.
Is it possible to import receipts into YNAB using a scanner?
There isn’t; however, its creators have noted that this is a frequently requested feature, and it looks like they plan to provide it in the future.
Are transactions from financial firms syncing with YNAB via Plaid?
Yes, but not only. Certainly, but not solely. It collaborates with two other experts in collecting financial data: MX and TrueLayer.
Is YNAB available to college students for free?
The answer is yes, for the whole year. You must provide proof of your student ID to claim your free year.