Navigation

Navigation

Elizabeth Starr Harden, LLC

personal money coach

YNAB

post

Reimbursing the Roomie: Split Transaction with Multiple Funding Sources

A reader (let's call them Alex) recently wrote to me with a fun question involving shared expenses, multiple categories, and -- bring on the extra challenge -- multiple funding sources! I love these questions!! Have a puzzle of your own? Tell me in the comments section or fill out this form. Reader's Situation Alex splits expenses with a housemate/significant other. When settling up at the end of the month, Alex ran into this situation: [He] paid the Internet bill (my half is $34) … [Read more...] about Reimbursing the Roomie: Split Transaction with Multiple Funding Sources

post

How to Conduct an Annual Budget Review (and Why You Should)

What better way to start the new year than with an annual budget review? Reviewing your budget is a relatively quick and simple exercise that will pay dividends throughout the year in saved time, effort, and frustration. I use YNAB (You Need a Budget) to map out my spending and saving plans and consider it a valuable and integral part of my money management system. While the process I outline below makes regular mention of the YNAB software, you can apply the same steps to whatever budgeting … [Read more...] about How to Conduct an Annual Budget Review (and Why You Should)

post

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

post

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

post

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

post

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

video

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

video

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

video

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