YNAB fits the bill perfectly. After an intensive couple days setting up and learning the software, we now have a real budget for the first time in our lives. I have been using YNAB so long I can't imagine life without it. Honestly, it took a while to really start budgeting like I should. The help offered online, in tutorials and in the forums, is important for those of us budget-challenged. I had used Quicken in the past; it didn't help me decide what to do with my income; YNAB makes it clear to see where the money is going and perhaps even to improve how much of it I can hang on to.
One of my majors in college was accounting so I know and like working with numbers. But, all I really needed for my home use was a good computer based budgeting program and not a financial software program.
It started out as a spending tracker for me. But, tracking where the money goes has led to better budgeting. Searching for a way to finally get a grip and get rid of debt without having to spend tons of time (which I don't have anyhow), I came across this software about a month ago. As a longtime user of MS Money, I had no trouble getting the software up and running even though the premise is different from most money "management" software. I do the same with that dental appointment I have every 6 months, and add $10 a month to it. That way I don't have to freak out when I have to spend a lot of money in one month. I have been using this software for about 8 months now. I started with Excel version of YNAB and now using the PRO version.
I was skeptical that this would provide what I wanted. I've tinkered with this program for 4 of those days. With the help of YNAB we have been motivated to stop using credit cards and for the first time in many years the balances are going down. There's a plan in place to eliminate all our debt within 3-4 years and our bank account is no longer being scraped dry before the next pay day. YNAB does keep a register of all your accounts and balances, but it doesn't show your net worth. Yodlee does for free everything I did with Quicken, which was keep all the account balances in one place and tell me how much money I spent. This all means that you WILL build up an accumulation of money in your bank account, as items get assigned to categories in YNAB. While you set that $50 a month aside for auto repairs in YNAB, the money does not actually move, so you will accumulate that additional money in your bank account. I know, because I used to think that way. Knowing what your day to day expenses are is not the same as actively planning for your future and having control over your money.
I did not need to duplicate the financial information that was kept elsewhere, such as my 401(k) and other financial investments. I still reconcile my banking and credit card accounts, but have saved many, many hours per month by switching to the YNAB Pro software to facilitate my family budget.
Instead of redoing the sheet, I thought I'd investigate some online software and found YNAB. I was pleasantly surprised.
One of my majors in college was accounting so I know and like working with numbers. But, all I really needed for my home use was a good computer based budgeting program and not a financial software program.
It started out as a spending tracker for me. But, tracking where the money goes has led to better budgeting. Searching for a way to finally get a grip and get rid of debt without having to spend tons of time (which I don't have anyhow), I came across this software about a month ago. As a longtime user of MS Money, I had no trouble getting the software up and running even though the premise is different from most money "management" software. I do the same with that dental appointment I have every 6 months, and add $10 a month to it. That way I don't have to freak out when I have to spend a lot of money in one month. I have been using this software for about 8 months now. I started with Excel version of YNAB and now using the PRO version.
I was skeptical that this would provide what I wanted. I've tinkered with this program for 4 of those days. With the help of YNAB we have been motivated to stop using credit cards and for the first time in many years the balances are going down. There's a plan in place to eliminate all our debt within 3-4 years and our bank account is no longer being scraped dry before the next pay day. YNAB does keep a register of all your accounts and balances, but it doesn't show your net worth. Yodlee does for free everything I did with Quicken, which was keep all the account balances in one place and tell me how much money I spent. This all means that you WILL build up an accumulation of money in your bank account, as items get assigned to categories in YNAB. While you set that $50 a month aside for auto repairs in YNAB, the money does not actually move, so you will accumulate that additional money in your bank account. I know, because I used to think that way. Knowing what your day to day expenses are is not the same as actively planning for your future and having control over your money.
I did not need to duplicate the financial information that was kept elsewhere, such as my 401(k) and other financial investments. I still reconcile my banking and credit card accounts, but have saved many, many hours per month by switching to the YNAB Pro software to facilitate my family budget.
Instead of redoing the sheet, I thought I'd investigate some online software and found YNAB. I was pleasantly surprised.
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I just wish I could get a reward for concerting people to YNAB--I am forever singing its praises to my friends, many of whom have bought it! Hydro Generator.
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