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Elizabeth Starr Harden, LLC

personal money coach

YNAB

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Why YNAB? A Detailed Breakdown of YNAB’s Unique Layered Approach to Budgeting

YNAB's 3 Core Concepts In case it's not painfully obvious, there are a few reasons why making current spending decisions based on anticipated income is a really bad idea. Unprecedented levels of unemployment ring any bells? Even if you have enviable job security, basing today's plans on tomorrow's income is putting the cart before the horse. It's not a good way to make a solid plan. Employment and salary security aside, anticipated-income budgeting leaves a whole host of folks out in … [Read more...] about Why YNAB? A Detailed Breakdown of YNAB’s Unique Layered Approach to Budgeting

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How to Power Up Your YNAB Searches with Emoji Tags

Emoji in YNAB Text Fields A fun feature available in the web-based version of You Need a Budget [YNAB] is the ability to incorporate emoji just about anywhere you can enter text. These expressive little icons can be used in your Account names, Category titles -- even the Memo field. While decorating with emoji can be entertaining, the power they wield in the memo field will blow your mind. This tutorial will walk you through how to use emoji to power up your search … [Read more...] about How to Power Up Your YNAB Searches with Emoji Tags

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Buying Cash From My Kid: Tricky Split Transactions On- and Off-Budget YNAB Accounts

After publishing my Handling Cash in YNAB tutorial, I received a question from a reader. It’s an awesome question and proved to be an interesting challenge. Thanks so much to my reader for taking the time to write in! … [Read more...] about Buying Cash From My Kid: Tricky Split Transactions On- and Off-Budget YNAB Accounts

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The Ultimate Guide to Handling Cash in YNAB

But then what about Fang and his cash-as-a-category method? This is why the right answer to “how should I handle cash in YNAB” is it depends. Fang’s use of cash is different than mine. And his feelings about money and budgeting are different, too. The Category method works well for Fang because: Almost all of his cash spending is on small incidentals for himselfHe’s not prone to impulse spendingHe sees no value in tracking his personal spending So a blend of cash methods is what … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Guide to Handling Cash in YNAB

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How to Merge (combine) your YNAB categories in 3 Simple Steps

Make sure you’re clear about what your goal is before you start. If you have several categories to be eliminated, complete all three steps for a single category before proceeding to the next category. Trying to combine steps could result in a hairy, tangled mess. [The new web-based YNAB’s lack of “walled months” makes it impossible to pick apart what went wrong, where puzzles. Ignore my advice at your own peril. Terminology: Host category – the category that will remain and be … [Read more...] about How to Merge (combine) your YNAB categories in 3 Simple Steps

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Toolkit for YNAB – Budget Screen settings

One of the few advantages to the new web-based YNAB (from my personal perspective, of course), is being able to customize your budget with little tweaks here and there. This is accomplished with the help of a handy browser plugin called Toolkit for YNAB. The plugin is available for both Google Chrome and Firefox. It is not available for Safari. Miss the Buffer? Hate the Age of Money display? Like the goals but want a little more functionality or transparency? Those features and many, many … [Read more...] about Toolkit for YNAB – Budget Screen settings

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Toolkit for YNAB – Account Screen settings

One of the few advantages to the new web-based YNAB (from my personal perspective, of course), is being able to customize many little tweaks here and there. This is accomplished with the help of a handy browser plugin called Toolkit for YNAB. The plugin is available for both Google Chrome and Firefox. It is not available for Safari. Still write paper checks and missing the Check Number column? That's a yes and yes from us! Or what about that handy Auto-Distribute button for split transactions … [Read more...] about Toolkit for YNAB – Account Screen settings

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Toolkit for YNAB – General Settings walkthrough

One of the few advantages to the new web-based YNAB (from my personal perspective, of course), is being able to customize many little tweaks here and there. This is accomplished with the help of a handy browser plugin called Toolkit for YNAB. The plugin is available for both Google Chrome and Firefox. It is not available for Safari. Hate the ever-present Help Button? The Toolkit for YNAB lets you hide it! Need a better way to switch between your personal and business budgets? You got it! The … [Read more...] about Toolkit for YNAB – General Settings walkthrough

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Getting Off the Float – YNAB Tutorial

So you’ve discovered that you’re riding a credit card float. Sure, it’s a bummer but it’s not all bad news. In fact, to point out the obvious: the only thing that has changed is your level of awareness of the situation, not the situation itself. Before: I pay my credit card(s) in full every month and never incur interest charges or fees. What could possibly go wrong? After: Ack! I’m borrowing against my next paycheck to pay for current expenses. Awareness, my friends, is … [Read more...] about Getting Off the Float – YNAB Tutorial