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If you’ve been looking for a tool to help you budget, look no further than YNAB (You Need A Budget). I began using YNAB while I was single to see what all the hype was about. I could barely afford the initial fee at the time so I searched Google for a coupon and was fortunate to find one. Initially YNAB was a software you could pay for once and download. I had some trouble understanding how it worked at first but my roommate was kind enough to show me the ins and outs and now I’m not sure how my husband and I could function without it. I really hate spending money if I don’t have to so I was reluctant to upgrade to the new version which is $50 a year (or $45 annually for those like me who had purchased the software early on). However, when I realized that I could keep track of our budget and update our expenditures entirely through the app, I was sold.
When the first edition of YNAB was released, the only way to update how much money you wanted to place in each spending category was by turning on your computer and updating it from the software. The app allowed users to add transactions which was helpful but the app in its current format is way more functional.
The heart behind YNAB is to give every dollar a job. It’s the same as the concept of “zeroing out” your budget. My husband and I have added categories for weddings, birthdays, books, coffee and date night – it’s totally customizable to suit your needs. YNAB does have to be renewed annually but for us it is worth the cost since it is so practical.
App View 
App View
Because we use YNAB, we were able to pay off our lease early. We also paid off our Sprint contract early and switched to a company that will save us $90/month – all while living on an income provided by unemployment.
If you think YNAB would be a good fit for you, click here to try it free for 34 days.
