Anyone interested in a YNAB chat/support thread?

[OrangeBlossomsinthesun]

Hi,

I wondered if anyone was interested in a YNAb thread to chat about progress and help each other. I've just started the trial period a couple of weeks ago and, although it's quite a steep learning curve I'm really impressed with it.
I'm freelance so it's important for me to track money and be prepared for fallow periods. I had a thread here with some great advice. I'll add it as there are some good links www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/4327812-YNAB-help-for-a-freelancer?watched=1&msgid=110514876#110514876

Anyone up for some YNAB chat/support?

I have read about bank sync making reconciliation easier - still manual entry, but using the sync as a check. I could see that being useful.

Ynab always stay quiet. When they moved over to the web version there was a lot of outrage. People weren't happy with some of the new issues, eg, to do with the turnover of months.

@Justanotherquestioner red arrow to the right, no reports in nynab, no running balance, no cheque number field, stealing from the future, the data migration tool didn't work, the ynab twitter account liked a tweet about "haters gonna hate".... I was rereading our thread on it here the other day. It was all very similar. So much drama!

Didn't really calm down until Jesse came out of the woodwork and started talking. The AMA he did on reddit is interesting. I used to really enjoy the videos he did with low production values, just him and a whiteboard. I think he does the podcast now and isn't as relatable with the Tesla and property empire etc. He has to fill his days I suppose now he's no longer CEO.

I quite like entering everything manually. Most of my spending is monthly recurring bills that always go at the same time for the same amount so they're just set up to sort themselves out. I'll spend money every couple of days and it takes 1 min to enter in the app. Auto sync doesn't interest me.

Every couple of days (actually every day as I'm a noob) I'll check the bank reconciles with YNABs view. My bank texts me whenever money goes in or out of my account so it's all easy to enter.

Yeah I'm not really interested in bank sync either. I like doing it manually.

Someone on Reddit shared a spreadsheet they built. I'm thinking I might try it out at the weekend.

I fucking hate spreadsheets.

@OrangeBlossomsinthesun

I fucking hate spreadsheets.

😂😂

So that's a no then?

Hehehhe, they sap my will to live.

Me and @katplva had our budget meeting last night. I've well and truly learnt my lesson... must keep up with adding transactions! We had to spend a while sorting out the mess to get me reconciled. Our monthly meetings are really keeping me on track which is good

Aha - also a YNAB fan here! Been using it properly since 2019. We pay extra to sync for YNAB which is a separate programme that allows sync with UK (and I think some EU banks). That was a game changer for us - made it a lot easier as I would forget to add transactions then end up with loads to add at once which was too much,
And if any of you use Monzo or Starling, the sync via webhook is instant! Other banks take about a day to come through,
We're on the grandfathered rate so does feel like a steep hike but when I amended the goal, it's about an extra £1.50 a month which feels manageable!

@Justanotherquestioner would the sync for YNAB suit you? Just to keep your budget up to date with less stress?

Back up to 5 days AOM here.

Congratulations! I’m paid tomorrow and I am amazed to not be in my overdraft! Definitely a win for me.

I filled up the car with petrol today, from very near empty, and it cost over €70 General prices have certainly gone up but this really shocked me.

One of the things that's interesting about this process is how far in advance I can plan things knowing the money is set aside now. It's de-stressing a few other areas by getting more organised in advance.

Cat was not thrilled at getting his flea treatment on time though.

And I've also started Christmas shopping. This is usually a December job from December pay.

@Kerberos

One of the things that's interesting about this process is how far in advance I can plan things knowing the money is set aside now. It's de-stressing a few other areas by getting more organised in advance.

Cat was not thrilled at getting his flea treatment on time though.

And I've also started Christmas shopping. This is usually a December job from December pay.

That's great about the Christmas shopping! I have managed to get some stuff bought already too, which I would never have managed before. I got the Switch with a deal to pay over 9 months. It's not techncially interest free but it's cheap and much better for me than trying to buy it in one go. I think having to take money from something else if you want to spend more than you have iyswim really helps focus. I would be racking up the credit card by now normally and instead I've not used it since I started YNAb and am actually paying it off (slowly).

Morning ladies. Still plugging away with the ynab. My contract has been extended into the new year so I'm really looking forward to the extra pay cheque in december

That's great news. I'm trying to work out if I can pay a deposit for our holiday next summer.

I was hoping to have a holiday abroad next year but realistically it’s looking like 2023. At least now I can see what I am spending where, and not just wonder where all my money is gone. And I have a goal for 2023 (or 2024!)

This is a holiday in Portugal (we live in Spain) so it's only 5 hours in the car. It's dead cheap too, renting a house near the beach for a week and I've found a really good deal.
I need to pay 200 euros to book it but I think I need to wait for an invoice to come in next week.
Before ynab I'd just have stuck it on the credit card

Can it wait until the invoice comes in? Or is it a deal that will not be available next week?

It'll probably be available next week because it will be available until someone else books the days I want. I will have a think about if I can move the money from another category and then replace that category with the invoice iyswim. It's just that this customer usually pays by now but doesn't actually have to pay until the end of the month. They usually pay early.

That’s frustrating that you have to wait for the invoice to come in when you know exactly what you want that money for! Any chance of moving money between categories? So you’re not spending money that you don’t have (credit card) and you can book the dates you want.

Yes, I will have a proper look tomorrow I think. I am just a bit nervous about sailing too close to the wind iyswim? I don't want to empty a category and then find I can't cover that if an invoice is paid late for example.

Sounds very sensible and financially prudent. I hope the invoice comes through and your dates remain available - you deserve a financial win.