YNAB support thread (2)

[HouseofHolbein]

Just a continuation of the previous one before it fills up!

@User415373 the way I've solved the overspent problem, is to go in and edit the date of the original transaction to 1st September. That way you can be overspent for the time being, until the money comes back in.

@h0rsewithn0name that's a fab idea, thank you so much. Love this thread for tips like this. I'll give it go this evening.

How’s it going everyone? I’ve been paid and topped all my categories up 😊 I’ve done a bit of tweaking adding in some extra categories and changing the way I add to them. Hopefully this will make things clearer.

I’m not funding into future months but I have a category called to assign which has a couple of months money in it in case of emergencies.

Hello all,
Slightly stressed at present as we have been waiting for a completion date to move. Stressed about changes to budget and not really knowing when they are going to hit.

To try and manage, I've allocated money for the new mortgage payment and also a random "moving" fund with the thinking that if it doesn't get used it can roll over.

Edited to add: it's nearly a year since I started YNAB. Nice to see my "net worth" move in a positive direction.

my net worth is improving as well and I am definitely more mindful with my spending 😊

I’m years YNABbing I’m still not a month ahead but I’m debt free except for mortgage and that’s good enough for me!

Today I have done 2 YNAB things. I have added my son on so he can start to get to grips with his finances 😊 and I have linked my accounts. Will have to see how that goes…

I've just signed up to the app to help with budgeting to get me ready for paying nursery fees in Jan! I know I can afford it, but seems to fitter away money each month.

ive spent some time linking my accounts and adding categories (even my 2027 holiday!) Do you just leave all your money in your normal account and check ynab to keep track? Or do you actually move money into separate savings accounts?

I keep mine in one savings account to maximise interest. I trust the YNAB pots.

bulk of my savings are in premium bonds which I can access easily if I need to but I have to actually make an effort if that makes sense. Plus I could potentially win a million pounds with them which would be nice 🤣🤣

I leave it where it is. I actually closed one as it was a faff having lots of accounts linked and dealing with transfers. When it's in my ynab 'holiday savings' I feel like it's in a savings account if that makes sense?
But I don't have any high investment/reward savings, mine were just easy access savings accounts.

Actually YNAB suggests one account and trusting the system so it’s simple. I have 2 accounts one which I transfer bill money into and pretty much ignore then another for my savings. I use a credit card for day to day spending and pay it off in full every month.

I too use a credit card for everyday spending. However, my money is all over the place to take advantage of high APR growth: £200 per month Principality 7.5%, £125 per month Principality 7%, £300 per month Zopa 7.5%, £400 per month Lloyds 6.25%.

That’s what I love about YNAB—I don’t have to keep track of which money in which account is for what spending. I have the accounts in YNAB and it all goes into my Ready to Assign pot and is sorted accordingly. I’ve never been a gal to turn down a high APR, and get my money working hard for me.

I thought I was doing well with my two high interest savings account, @Chatonette , but you're setting the bar high 👏

I have a mix of savers/ISAs. Never keep much in the current account.

Now hoping to move in October so a lot of money is going to gone but it'll be a relief as we put on offer in back in April.

The app has updated with new in app videos and I've realised I don't think I'm a month ahead. I allocate my categories for the next month from salary this month (so I'll fill up October next week when I get paid) but I think I should be filling up November from September's salary to be a month ahead?

Now losing the plot with transactions as I move money for my house deposit into my current account 😭

How do I categorise transactions for credit card repayments?

I have the payment going out of my current account and then another one on my credit card for the incoming payment, but that is asking for a category?!

@Goldpanther I created a credit card category and assign and activity on there.

I'm having an issue with the new linking partner - not sure there is much that can be done, but I can't link one of my credit cards and there is a big delay on my current account link - which was never a problem before.
Is making me reconsider YNAB (which is a shame because it has been amazing for my budgeting and love seeing my net worth increase!)

Does anyone use something that isn't YNAB that I could look into?

I tried linking my Caixa account (Spain) but although it was listed it wouldn't work. But I am quite happy to just continue doing it all manually so can't really help, sorry.

I'm too lazy for manual 😂 Having everything linked was what made this perfect for me.
I've contacted the chat service, but assume they're working US hours - so no response yet.

I've not been totally diligent about filling in my YNAB. Also, I haven't really got a grip of how to deal with different savings accounts and credit cards. I have done a restart almost every month since I started back on it. I probably need to invest some time in catching up with how YNAB works now.

The good news is that the decision to be more disciplined about it all and set some proper goals has worked its own magic in resetting my thinking and behaviour. This has been helped by one large pot of savings that was set aside for a particular purpose turns out not to be needed as much as I thought in the next year. So I have been able to use some of it to clear the credit cards.

This means that come 1st November I should be able to do a fresh start with YNAB and not get so confused with it all.

I am feeling much more positive, organised and generally in control.

I tried simplifying my categories but think this didn't offer enough clarity in the detail of what I needed money for over the year. So one of my goals for next year is to get through the year without having to use the credit card for regular things like car insurance, MOT etc.

I am very fortunate in that I am not struggling to make ends meet on the basics, just very disorganised and starting to get overwhelmed. Having done YNAB in the past and got out of a very bad situation I was able to recognise what was happening and catch it in time.

I've only just figured out how to do credit cards in ynab, but I had to read through the how to guide a few times! I have my credit cards linked, make a set payment each month from the credit card payment category and managed to get the interest to have a category and be paid from the credit card.

I found just knowing I have a budget and looking at it before I spend has really helped reset my thinking.

I'm hoping to keep getting more diligent over the next few months.

How’s it going everyone? I’ve made the decision to unlink one of my accounts and just leave my credit card linked. It was getting too confusing and I like simple 🤣🤣

anyway I now have my bills for November funded and I have some money in a category ready to top up everything else 1/11. I’ve changed a couple of categories around… some are less detailed others are more if that makes sense.

I’m trying to save for a ‘safety net’ of about 3 months worth of income as I would only get ssp if I was off sick. Considering looking into an insurance that would cover my wages instead but not sure where to start with that.

anyway still really happy with YNAB and quite like doing little tweaks with it 🤣🤣

I've gone back to ynab after a couple of years, tried to do a fresh start, but still confused. I'm just logging all my spends atm and hoping it gets clearer, it bears little reality to my 'real' bank account atm but just adding all the transactions is stopping me from overspending. I think I'm basically living a bit beyond my means since retiring and have been dipping into savings too much

I think I am in a similar position to you @NecklessMumster . Today I watched the video on managing credit card transactions in YNAB and different savings accounts and it seems clearer. I’m going to dip into a few others, especially the ‘beginner’ ones.

I also started setting up the fresh start budgets ready for November. I actually feel enthusiastic and motivated about that. My aim is to get through Xmas in a controlled and organised way and have a good base to plan for next year.

Most of the personal and household major regular annual expenses happen in October/November so if I haven’t got things organised early enough it can get out of control very easily.

Things are in a better state this year than this time last year so it shows how quickly things can turn round once you start.

I’m remembering how good it felt previously to be in control and not worry and want to get back to that.