I've never been able to build a big pot of savings. All the budget categories are funded - including sinking funds - and we don't go deeper into debt each month. But the savings account never grows. I realized that my perfectionist brain wasn't seeing any progress because all the YNAB categories had small to medium amounts. So, I stopped setting aside money for our planned trips/vacations and other large ticket items (even though I built categories for them) and started putting those amounts into the savings account. It grew quickly and became a big pot I didn't want to spend. When it was time for the trips/vacations and large ticket items (like income taxes) I moved money. But it was a more thoughtful process that led to better spending habits - do I really want to spend this money? Can I do it cheaper? It's coming out of my big pot of money I've never had and really want! And so the savings account keeps growing...
I guess what I'm saying is that I finally figured out what motivates me and aligned the goals accordingly.
That's great that you were able to learn what motivates you and make the change yourself.
Not saying this is the same situation at all, but it reminds me of a YNABer who in an effort to stop smoking cigarettes, got rid of his cigarette category in YNAB. So every time he had to buy a pack of cigarettes, he would have to pull the money away from another priority. Over time, he hated taking the money away from other things enough that it helped him quit.
Love this swimming metaphor!! It took a really good friend who I trusted to help me ease into YNAB. I’m truly shocked that, until I was 41 freaking years old, I relied on my bank balance as an indicator of how much money I had available to spend. Five years later, giving every dollar a job is THE absolute gamechanger, and I didn’t even need a face tattoo. This year I hope to relax my perfectionist tendencies that make me feel my categories are on lock.
Thanks! I used to lie to myself all the time while looking at the bank balance and think we had plenty of money to pay the credit card bill or rent while not factoring in the big annual expenses or the "unexpected" stuff like car repair or needing a new computer that is actually quite predictable.
But if you DO happen to get a face tattoo, please do share it here :-)
Checking in with my money on YNAB every day has helped me get so much better with my money and helps me to remain more accountable to myself. It's a morning date every morning with my coffee!
I have a lot of shame about how I've managed money. Yes, I'm a perfectionist about a lot of things! This year, I'm going back to basics, including being honest with myself about our irregular expenses. I've allowed myself to set up monthly goals on some things, knowing I don't have the money yet but will be finding it by being honest with myself about what we need.
There's something about a little bit of planning ahead that feels empowering, you know?
I had it stuck in my mind for a long time that moving money around in my categories was a failure. Like I should somehow be able to perfectly predict how much I'm going to spend on groceries or gas each month. Once I let go of that, I was finally able to take the stress out of my budget. My budget is a guide not a prescription and there is no such thing as "a normal month," moving money makes me flexible not a failure.
I've never been able to build a big pot of savings. All the budget categories are funded - including sinking funds - and we don't go deeper into debt each month. But the savings account never grows. I realized that my perfectionist brain wasn't seeing any progress because all the YNAB categories had small to medium amounts. So, I stopped setting aside money for our planned trips/vacations and other large ticket items (even though I built categories for them) and started putting those amounts into the savings account. It grew quickly and became a big pot I didn't want to spend. When it was time for the trips/vacations and large ticket items (like income taxes) I moved money. But it was a more thoughtful process that led to better spending habits - do I really want to spend this money? Can I do it cheaper? It's coming out of my big pot of money I've never had and really want! And so the savings account keeps growing...
I guess what I'm saying is that I finally figured out what motivates me and aligned the goals accordingly.
That's great that you were able to learn what motivates you and make the change yourself.
Not saying this is the same situation at all, but it reminds me of a YNABer who in an effort to stop smoking cigarettes, got rid of his cigarette category in YNAB. So every time he had to buy a pack of cigarettes, he would have to pull the money away from another priority. Over time, he hated taking the money away from other things enough that it helped him quit.
Love this swimming metaphor!! It took a really good friend who I trusted to help me ease into YNAB. I’m truly shocked that, until I was 41 freaking years old, I relied on my bank balance as an indicator of how much money I had available to spend. Five years later, giving every dollar a job is THE absolute gamechanger, and I didn’t even need a face tattoo. This year I hope to relax my perfectionist tendencies that make me feel my categories are on lock.
Thanks! I used to lie to myself all the time while looking at the bank balance and think we had plenty of money to pay the credit card bill or rent while not factoring in the big annual expenses or the "unexpected" stuff like car repair or needing a new computer that is actually quite predictable.
But if you DO happen to get a face tattoo, please do share it here :-)
😂 you know I will!
And the new computer struggle is real!
Checking in with my money on YNAB every day has helped me get so much better with my money and helps me to remain more accountable to myself. It's a morning date every morning with my coffee!
I check in on YNAB with my coffee as well! Fantastic to hear about your progress.
I have a lot of shame about how I've managed money. Yes, I'm a perfectionist about a lot of things! This year, I'm going back to basics, including being honest with myself about our irregular expenses. I've allowed myself to set up monthly goals on some things, knowing I don't have the money yet but will be finding it by being honest with myself about what we need.
There's something about a little bit of planning ahead that feels empowering, you know?
Yes, totally, Joan. Just thinking "it will all work out" (my old approach) seems laid-back but is actually stress-inducing.
I had it stuck in my mind for a long time that moving money around in my categories was a failure. Like I should somehow be able to perfectly predict how much I'm going to spend on groceries or gas each month. Once I let go of that, I was finally able to take the stress out of my budget. My budget is a guide not a prescription and there is no such thing as "a normal month," moving money makes me flexible not a failure.
That's some good self-talk, Phoebe! "Moving money makes me flexible not a failure."