Getting a Month Ahead with Your Money | Budgeting Tips

[@stephaniekipf2424]

I am not sure if I am the only one rewatching Hannahs videos, not because I need the info but instead because I just can not get enough of Hannahs fun, relatable, and full of personality videos

[@heatherk569]

Same

[@ILikeNaps2]

"Imagine an alternate universe. It's May 1st and you now wear glasses" 😂♥️

[@LaToyaPlansLife]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@kimbirdwatcher]

I had a hard time getting a month ahead, and it took about a year. I get paid bi weekly and I used that extra paycheck 2x a year to get me over that hump!

[@jrwojick]

This combined with treating your Emergency Savings as a bill were definitely eye-opening. I have been one of those following the "put everything toward expenses and debt" and waiting to be "debt free" to start saving. I have a great battle plan going into 2023. Thanks!

[@YNABofficial]

Yes! The more of a financial cushion you have (i.e. savings), the safer and more efficient it is to get out of debt and stay out! No more sneak attacks you weren't prepared for since you were sending all your money to your debt-you're more prepared to fight off future debt, which is also a hugely essential step in getting out of current debt. Way to go, love the sound of your battle plan!! 🌻 Hannah

[@xmochix604]

I love this. I am a stay home mom who has 6 months buffer plus six figures in savings/investments (not retirement accounts). All I did was shave this and that. Cut cut cut cut. No side hustles. No passive income, Nothing. Just me being mom and husband a provider. Been using YNAB since YNAB 4. ;)

[@YNABofficial]

Wow!! That's amazing!! Discipline is certainly the key, and it sounds like you have it down pat. Love that you're a YNAB veteran!! We're so glad to be on your team all these years!! -Hannah :)

[@supreme5580]

Shut up! Wow that's super impressive

[@jborrego2406]

Dang I need a husband lol

[@bluezhawg2104]

Our month ahead journey has led to unexpected calmness and joy! We used two methods. 1st was to get a current month fully funded early then assign all new payroll to the following month. Of course this wasn’t easy it was incremental. We just kept forward funding until we were fully funded for the next month on the first day of the previous month. 2nd Once we arrived here we took each variable bill ie water, electric gas, etc and added just ten percent to the average amount budgeted moving forward. Now we are three months ahead and all categories are over funded just in case of a rate increase or a higher bill. This combined with a fully funded emergency fund of six months and zero debt aside from our mortgage has changed our lives. All this because of YNAB. Thank you for changing lives for millions of people!

[@JustJoia]

I remember when I first started and actually succeeded in getting ahead... I freaked out thinking I forgot to pay a bill. 🥴 But nope, I was just ahead of the game. Can’t wait to get back to that.

[@thebudgetmindset]

Just Joia I got one month ahead a month before the crisis. It’s a beautiful feeling to know you have the money there ready to go. Less stress.

[@lrwalters14]

This is important in YNAB, and understated. YNAB isn't just for getting ahead of living paycheck to paycheck but it is also great for putting money (even if it is only $10 or $20) toward the next month. That is how you get ahead.

[@matthewheadland7307]

Lynette Walters amen!

[@jackwiley1480]

As the self-appointed President of the YNAB Hannah Fan Club, I feel sorry for the people who don't use YNAB, because her videos are so much fun! Stellar content aside, Hannah's candor in delivery, timing, and improvised add-ins, always leave me in stitches and a good mood for the rest of the day. I wish she was my daughter because I bet she would down for helping mow the yard or going for tacos on some day other than Tuesday. And the whole concept of getting a month ahead in your money is spot on. Once you get a month up, you're going to want to stretch it to two and then three.

[@YNABofficial]

😂 Oh my gosh, I can't handle this. Thank you so much for your kind words!! Unfortunately, I already have a dad and he's doing a great job, so I think I'll keep him ;) But I'm gonna have to run that taco idea by him! -Hannah :)

[@beckyguzman662]

Another awesome & informative video. . New Ynaber here and I literally just made my $ age for THIRTY DAYS!! My old mindset wanted to creep back in and celebrate with a night out or buy a new purse, like I did 6 months ago to celebrate anything BUT nope, my new ynab mindset said a cup of iced coffee would do. THANK YOU YNAB!!

[@YNABofficial]

Yeah girl!! Congrats on the 30 days!! Iced coffee is also my go to reward for myself these days 😂 Nothing like a $3 pat on the back. -Hannah :)

[@MariaKarras]

YNAB is a great budgeting program. There's a learning curve and their videos are extremely important and valuable to watch. Hannah keeps my attention and explains YNAB tools really well. And I do rewatch these videos. The learning curve is steep and rewinding and rewatching is a perfect strategy.

[@YNABofficial]

Awwww, thanks so much Maria!! I love that! The pay off that comes from investing in YNAB and taking it seriously is huge-mentally, emotionally, and quite literally financially. So glad you've enjoyed managing your money with YNAB! I sure do too! 🌻Hannah

[@kimz24]

I mean the audacity to be so effortlessly funny while spitting out golden budgeting information 👌 thank you so much for this

[@YNABofficial]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZrNfqape9iBZ5I -Hannah 🌻

[@AndrewDubas]

I wish you would have shown a practical example in the app how to do this. Do you just click forward and fund the month early? I'm a little confused on how you do it in the app.

[@leerv.]

Hannah, that hair-do is so cute! And "Live Off Last Month's Income" is my favorite rule, so thank you for featuring it!!

[@YNABofficial]

Lee, it sure takes some time and discipline!! But after some time, work, and lots of budgeting, I can finally speak for myself: it is WORTH IT, and it is COMFORTABLE. I'm diggin' life a month ahead. 😎 -Hannah :)

[@kukurukuru04]

Idk why I compulsively have to watch the latest YNAB video when under stress, but I'm just gonna call it a tool on my peace inducing toolbelt amidst this chaos

[@troyf9111]

When I first started YNAB, my age of money was only one day. But I was determined to stick it out and took all of the 20 minute workshops, watched KZbin Videos and searched through the YNAB forums. After one year I was only at about 8 days but noticed that I no longer over drafted my checking account and I paid for some large auto repairs without needing to use credit. Recently I received extra money that I had not expected and I knew where to put that money so that I could plan for future expenses. I am currently at 30 days and planning for getting to 6 months.

[@YNABofficial]

Troyyyy!! What a victory!! That is seriously a major accomplishment. Age of money does fluctuate as we save and spend, so you may have gotten over 8 days at one point, then dipped back down after paying for a large car repair or something. But regardless, knowing you're at 30 now is a HUGE win. Proud of you!! Way to stick with it! -Hannah :)

[@longroadset]

Once I started YNAB and had to LOOK at my expenses, it became easier to fund my future expenses. I'm not fully a month ahead (YET!) But soon!

[@chimenelongwater3612]

Love your dry humor...absolutely charming and fun to listen to. Keep up the great work. On my 67th try at YNAB...this time looks like a charm!

[@YNABofficial]

67th try!! YES Chimene!! Love the determination. Definitely education is the best place to start-you're doin' it right. Cheering you on!! Come back every friday for more tips and Hannah thoughts on budgeting fails and victories! -Hannah :)

[@dmitriiandreev8320]

You are so inspiring! I love your videos, you give me a lot of motivation. I have paid out my debt and started saving. Thank you!

[@C.Pachovsky]

I watched the video, went to YNAB, pulled some money from my savings and put it to the next month’s budget, DONE ✅

[@inkling00]

I was hoping she would give more practical tips through YNAB, but nevertheless it was motivating and inspirational! I love this gal's sense of humor and relatability.

[@ryanash6741]

Hannah, you do such an awesome job in these videos! Sure, YNAB's an amazing tool that I love to use, but the concept of aging one's money has been so valuable for us to learn! I just looked at our history, and over the last 4 years (which have contained LOTS of challenges and unexpected expenses), the lowest our AOM has gone is 13 days. Having that cushion has been a life changer! Hang in there! You can totally do this! P.S. I got to wear my snazzy new YNAB t-shirt for the first time today! Thanks so much!

[@YNABofficial]

Ryan! WOW! That is an incredible victory. I've actually made incredible progress on my goals!! You'll see soon enough here :) And YES! Glad you're loving the shirt! I've never seen someone go through the effort you did to get that shirt 😂 That's worth rewarding! -Hannah :)

[@ryanash6741]

@@YNABofficial Awesome! I look forward to hearing about your success! Lol! What can I say...I'm a "bit" of a fan of YNAB! I think I got you a new customer the first time I wore it away from home. I talked to someone that had read Jesse's book but never purchased YNAB. By the end of our conversation, she was sold! I may need a steady supply of shirts. 😛 Or if you guys happen to need a new tech person or Salesforce administrator I could get on the inside employee t-shirt track. 😉😉

[@notAsheep87]

I think a good strategy to acheive this could be to plan it for your "Golden Month." For those that don't know, the golden month is a month where you get 3 pay checks in stead of 2, if you're paid every 2 weeks. Depending on the month you might get a couple of those per year. For me July is one of those months because I get paid every tuesday and this July I'll be paid the 2nd, 16th, and 30th. if your month to month expenses are consistent, theoretically the first 2 paychecks should cover it, as they do with all the other months, and the 3rd check is almost like free extra money. Free money you worked to earn..

[@addyant6]

notAsheep87 you mean you get paid every OTHER Tuesday?

[@YNABofficial]

Yes! I actually just got switched from being paid monthly to being paid twice a month starting next month, so the golden month is a reality for me now! That's a really great tip. There have also been stimulus checks, tax returns, and a few other surprises in the past month or so, so I got a major boost in my month-ahead journey!! Tune back in Friday to hear more!! -Hannah :)

[@FeliciaWilliams1908]

This is such an awesome time. This month will be Golden one for me and the past somehow I managed to spend it without even knowing where it went. This is my second year using YNAB and last month I started using the budget template after seeing Hannah’s video on how to handle bi-weekly pay. It was so eye opening. For once, a golden month will be golden and I can use that extra to fund a few monthly bills ahead.

[@ViolaGrl19]

When you get paid once a month they’re all the same. Always. So… there’s that…

[@moniquemayer3933]

"It's May first and you now wear glasses". Hannah, you are hilarious. Really makes learning this stuff a joy. Thank you!

[@scruffthemagicdragon]

What, Budget Coach AND Life Coach? Pretty spiffy, Hannah!

[@jojovasquez8111]

I did it! Used my stimmy to get a month ahead. Sooo happy!!! Thanks for the tips 😄

[@ashwalkerthisway7094]

This video is so uplifting! Thank you as always, Hannah 🩷

[@dianvandevyver5729]

I put my "one month ahead" fund in my checking account in another bank. And a 2 year emergency fund in 2 savings accounts ( in 2 different banks). I love watching your videos Hannah 👍👍😊

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

I create a separate savings account at my main bank to cover each and every recurring expense category. Each pay day, I have an automatic transfer from the account that gets my paycheck to the appropriate accounts for those categories. Since I make sure that my fixed expenses are always less than my paycheck over the course of the entire year, I know that there will always be enough money on payday to cover those expenses. The result is that I always have the money on hand to cover those expenses and if I don't, I adjust my transfer size a bit, or try to cut back on the corresponding expense. My personal spending money is at a different bank, so there's no confusion and I have separate accounts for my long term savings and emergency funds. I also like to use another account just for money that's being set aside for future purchases.

[@lwtic]

Whenever I see these kinda videos, I'm so intrigued with the idea I could be working for YNAB. I'm scared what it would mean for me in terms of income taxes, since I live overseas, but I'll keep my fingers crossed for a future opportunity. Love what you are all doing

[@leerv.]

Me too. I think it would be awesome belonging to a team that believes in what they're doing and trusts their own product for their lives. You so rarely see that anymore.

[@okgreat252]

Check their website guys, they are hiring at the moment

[@jenniferjohnson8539]

Love, love, love Hannah!!!

[@MrRutty1984]

Such a great concept, I have a good emergency fund and this is my next financial goal. Great video.

[@janeknight3597]

This is a seriously advanced feature in the software. I have made a terrible mess of this in the past-I am assuming you are talking about allocating money to future months. Please can we have a tutorial on how this works in the software. What exactly is it I do when the following month rolls around?

[@decimalowen9206]

This can be a bit tricky if you budget money in a future month and then overspend in the current month. One way I avoid that confusion is by just adding a category to my budget called “next month’s budget” which I empty and begin budgeting at the start of the next month.

[@ReeceBowman1867]

The YNAB tool kit you can get in google has a feature when set to show in red if you have tapped into money the next month if that helps

[@56freckles]

I agree- please help, YNAB!! I'm confused about the actual process of getting ahead using the software. I know the "your money is X days old" number is there, but I'm not sure how to allocate money for the next month. Is it as simple as having as many categories as possible in green at the end of the month, so it rolls over? (aka not spending that money?). I'm nervous that I'll see that and assume it's available money for spending, rather than money I'm attempting to set aside to age my money. I'm still in my first month of YNAB, so I'm curious to see what happens when it rolls over.

[@himani8927]

@@56freckles On the top of the screen by the months there are arrows. If you click the arrow to the right, it should scroll from May's budget page to June's budget page. From there you can move money from your TBB to directly budget it for a June category. (Or you could do what Deci suggested and just add a category called "Next Month's Budget" where you store some money and don't touch it.)

[@darlene971]

@@decimalowen9206 that is a hood idea. Thanks

[@ms.ashley7643]

6 months ahead in mortgage payments, 6 months ahead in electric 3months ahead in phone bill. 6 months Ahead in car insurance 1 yeah ahead in home warranty Feels really good, allows me to make mortgage principal payments more often.

[@YNABofficial]

Holy cow, Ashley!! That's AMAZING!! Crushin' it to the max and we are 110% here for it. -Hannah :

[@LaToyaPlansLife]

I absolutely love Hannah and her videos!! She is too funny and very inspiring. 🥰💯

[@ElaineLoyd]

I used my tax refund to pay my bills and then had a no spend month. Now my age of money is 98 days and counting. I feel comfortable not having an emergency fund. Being 3 months ahead is my emergency fund.

[@YNABofficial]

98 days?! Holy cats, Elaine!! That's amazing! Having that three month buffer must give you so much security and peace. I'm coming right up behind ya and I can't wait! -Hannah :)

[@TheYogaPartyHouse]

This video was so encouraging. I love YNAB 💛💛

[@stevewright3940]

I agree that a great follow-up video would be to show how this actually works from month to month. I get paid every other week and once I pay a bill, the next paycheck goes towards the next month's bill, but I don't think that's the same thing.

[@YNABofficial]

Right! The goal is to have your expenses covered twice over. So when I'm fully a month ahead in my finances, I would have this month's rent ready to go and be paid as well as having next months rent being ready to go and be paid right now! That's why it's no easy task and can take awhile! But by the end of it you could pay two electric bills or two car payments at the drop of a hat. It's an amazing cushion, and takes a lot of discipline and strategy to get there! More coming on this topic this friday, but if you're looking for an even more granular, step-by-step approach on how to get a month ahead, let me know that as well! I'd be happy to produce that if that's what the people want! -Hannah :)

[@elizabethman7313]

@@YNABofficial yes please!

[@user-yl3qm7zm2i]

I am in the process for budgeting for next month and feeling great about it! Love these videos

[@mikepawlikguitar]

Im my humble, and probably wrong opinion, before starting your YNAB journey, I truly and wholly believe everyone should first read Ramit Sethi's book (2nd edition). That, THEN YNAB, is an absolute beast of a life changer. Do it! Don't delay. (I do not get endorsed by Mr. Sethi.)

[@YNABofficial]

Jesse agrees! If you've never heard it before, you can check out this podcast where Jesse interviews Ramit! kzbin.info/www/bejne/n562nXSOjtNgnpo 🌻 Hannah

[@mikepawlikguitar]

@@YNABofficial That's amazing!! Can't wait to listen to it. Ramit + YNAB is like my favorite ice cream, for free, for the rest of my life haha

[@YNABofficial]

😂😂 I'd take the ice cream, too, to be fair. 🌻 Hannah

[@mikepawlikguitar]

@@YNABofficial 😂

[@christinemitchell6210]

I love this!!! I’m on a journey to be a year ahead on my budget. If I keep to this journey, without any hiccups, it’ll take 5 years. I’m currently two months ahead and 22% funded for month #3. I just started using YNAB software two days ago and it’s helped me see the pig picture better! Thank you!!!!!

[@YNABofficial]

Wow, holy cow!! Sounds like you were crunching some hard numbers and exercising some serious discipline before YNAB! I sure hope YNAB can help you track your progress and keep saving saving saving! That is so ambitious and beautiful and I love it. -Hannah :)

[@LeahBandB]

I'm in the process of doing this now while simultaneously building my EF. I get paid biweekly, so that naturally moves you a month ahead over time. I'll be a month ahead of all my bills except rent by August and rent by February.

[@YNABofficial]

Leah, YES girl. That's amazing!! Keep up with those goals! Rent is for sure the biggest beast to tackle. But don't lose momentum, I'm right there with ya! Keep it up, friend! -Hannah :)

[@vampbat]

This is exactly why I started a “Yearly Savings Goal” December goal in my YNAB this year. I am doing ok month to month, but I am tired of my Savings Acct always looking the exact same! And hey. $5 is $5!

[@YNABofficial]

Nice!! Whatever works, my friend! 🌻 Hannah

[@michaelgraflmusic]

Awesome presentation!

[@Sarah08850]

Great info. Just wondering if I’m overthinking this.....So once you have next month’s total saved up (let’s say it’s $6000 total for each month) you put it to the side as an ‘in case emergency fund’ sort of deal? Or how do you use it?

[@c7042]

I budget on a fixed $767.06/month pension and stay mostly below it ($66.01🔥-for a very nice used tire from junk yard in Feb) but my emerg fund is a brokerage acct I've had for 16 years with $221,281 in it. It used to be a lot less but it grows by itself now. Never taken from it. Also have a VISA cc that is used/paid off quick. 14.1% interest + fees would wreak havoc on my budget.

[@lilaxshade]

I've watched this video a few times but only just noticed the clip in Hannah's hair 😆 On a diff note I just hit 30 days in my age of money! Took me about 7 months.

[@vazjc]

Been using YNAB less than a year and I'm up a month, of course getting a nice bonus last Dec helped some. Not a Xmas bonus but a job competed bonus.

[@SterianAlinaNicoleta]

Thank you for this inspirations!!

[@robertl30]

I just got two months ahead. It is doable. Took about 10 months.

[@YNABofficial]

Congrats Robert!! That's awesome news!! I'm taggin' along behind ya ;) -Hannah

[@ayannafraleymoore5265]

This video was great, but can you also do a video showing a practical process with applicable steps and strategies for getting ahead one month?

[@YNABofficial]

I hear ya, Ayanna!! Keep an eye out for future videos! My "Month Ahead" testimony will be hitting the channel soon, but if you're interested in an even more granular step-by-step for getting a month ahead (more tutorial-like), definitely let me know!! -Hannah :)

[@danmantena4676]

Hannah with glasses knows her stuff!

[@YNABofficial]

😂😂😂 -Hannah 🌻

[@NS-pf2zc]

Last year we took our tax refund and budgeted out a month in advance. Best decision ever! We are now working on two months ahead. It's great to get this months paycheck and click over to the next month or beyond!

[@YNABofficial]

Natasha, I plan to do the same!! I think because of my tax return I'll be a month ahead a lot sooner than I thought!! Now I'm already scheming how long it'll take me to get two months ahead... -Hannah :)

[@NS-pf2zc]

@@YNABofficial It's truly a great feeling! (And thanks for the response! I LOVE your videos!)

[@YNABofficial]

😊

[@jbockel]

Hannah for President!

[@daftoptimist]

I’ve been using YNAB for two years, enjoyed being usually about 3 weeks ahead, and just moved out on my own (YNAB helped me build my moving fund!) Now I’m facing the task of reconfiguring my budget for my new lifestyle and re-breaking the paycheck cycle. It’s a little daunting with way more at stake now, but I know I can do it again!

[@YNABofficial]

Oh, I've been there. But what an exciting stage!! Where YOU get to decide what your priorities are and what your budget reflects. With your two years of YNABing under your belt, I am CONFIDENT you have the tools and know-how to navigate this exciting but a little scary new season. You got it, my friend!! Keep it up! 🌻 Hannah

[@werelemur1138]

This seems a lot more achievable than trying to figure out how much money I would need for 6 months and then putting it all in a separate account ...

[@Paolagonzales3114]

Hannah, I have so many categories to fill to save for vacations and emergencies and birthday so what do I do? Save for those or future months bills??? :/

[@vickivee]

The Michael Scott quote had me. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@Sherry-k4d]

Should the month ahead go in seperate account or in your checking account

[@jannadelle]

It took me about 1-2 months (about 4-ish paychecks), but that’s because my living set up allows me to share utilities, groceries with my sisters. Lucky enough to live in our own house, so no rent for us.

[@MarkHimley]

Thank you for this! Love these videos. I'm currently going through this too.. I've been keeping my budget super tight as I'm working my way out of student loan debt. I have kept very minimal savings because I've been forcing myself to throw every single penny I can at my debt. You put it very well - yes debt needs to be paid off, but I need some stability and security NOW also.. Can't even imagine how much more peace of mind I would have with more savings and how much less anxiety-prone it would make me. Thanks for your insight!

[@YNABofficial]

Right?! For whatever reason, it's not an obvious mindset-at least it wasn't to me! It was actually my mom who kept encouraging me to get a month ahead, and I kept thinking "yeah, but debt is bad and therefore I must tackle that first." And yet if any unexpected expenses or emergencies were to come up financially, I'd only be *furthering* that debt by not having a buffer built up for myself. It makes me squirm now to think how backwards I had it!! Ya live and ya learn, I guess. I'll save if you will 😉 -Hannah :)

[@MarkHimley]

@@YNABofficial haha it's a deal ;) thanks again

[@laabel5969]

thank you so much!

[@Marb6]

This video resonated with me. Especially cause my pooch literally gets an annual ear infection. Gotta stay on top of that pet sinking fund.

[@YNABofficial]

Right?! It's like a secret ritual they all share. -Hannah :)

[@annevandegrift8028]

Love your videos Hannah. I’m new to YNAB - 3 months - and find your videos very helpful! I also would like to know where you got that coffee mug? Thanks!

[@YNABofficial]

Woo hoo!! Thank you, I'm so glad!! The mug is from Target-I'll link it below! Pretty sure this is the right one. www.target.com/p/11oz-solene-stoneware-mug-white-project-62-153/-/A-53813253?preselect=50876892#lnk=sametab -Hannah 🌻

[@craigslistrro709]

I'm spending waay too much time on my lap top fiddling with my budget. But I cant stop fooling with it.. The one thing I am constantly changing is the grocery budget... I started out thinking 250.00 would cover it at the beginning of the month... Im already over 400.00 with 8 days left in the month...I'm really enjoying this.. YNAB seems to suit me.

[@YNABofficial]

Ha! Right?! I am eternally optimistic about my grocery budget. I actually think the whole world is eternally optimistic about their grocery budget. In my head, one person can't eat that much right? But lo and behold, every month I eat more than I thought 😂I too am still trying to figure out the right amount to budget every month! It's a balance between "Am I overspending? Can I cut back?" and then just having to be realistic and saying "I'm a human, I literally must consume food to survive, I should just up my grocery budget." Hopefully one day I find the balance! But YNAB is totally like a game to me, too. :) Glad ya found something that suits you!! -Hannah :)

[@jimmyjones5492]

Love your personality! Just to clarify: I'm already in europe, so I don't need 6months of savings right? Haha Keep it up!

[@YNABofficial]

Ha! Jimmy, that is exactly how that works. #nailedit -Hannah :)

[@marie-linevillers9064]

How would you put this in your budget and know when you have a month?

[@bradwilliams5153]

I'm not sure why anybody would dislike this video.

[@janebiggio1889]

You're so funny, and cute. I love this! I'm going to try to get my kids to watch it. Fingers crossed!

[@ladillon79]

Loved the video, but was hoping to get practical ways that you all suggest implementing this in YNAB. In others words the tools to set up categories for this. Or do you just create a single category for a months expense?

[@thebudgetmindset]

Luke Dillon I just got one month ahead. I would create a category called ‘one month ahead’ and when you get income in, budget it into that category. At the end of the month release the money from this category, it should go back into the “to be budgeted” at the top, then you carry it over to be budgeted for next month. Hope this helps.

[@himani8927]

On the top of the screen by the month names there are arrows. If you click the arrow to the right, it should scroll from May's budget page to June's budget page. From there you can move money from TBB (or another green category) to directly budget it for a June category. (Or you could do what you suggested and just add a single category called "Next Month's Budget" where you store some money and don't touch it until the end of the month, where it goes back into TBB.)

[@YNABofficial]

Hey Luke! I hear ya! Tune back in this Friday to hear a little more about my strategies for getting a month ahead-just some quick tips and how my brain works on the whole process. If after that you'd like an even *more* granular video on how to get a month ahead (more tutorial-y), definitely let me know!! I'd be more than happy to pursue that video to help people feel a little more grounded in and prepared for the process! -Hannah :)

[@YNABofficial]

Himani, spot on! I also physically budget into the following month. Keeps the money a little more out of sight, out of mind, and you can start to see each of your categories get fully funded one by one, which is really satisfying and motivating! -Hannah :)

[@barbaracarbone4658]

Ty. I like your style..lol. Be well.

[@AmyHollinger1]

Somebody once told me "well you can't win the lottery if you don't play" and welp, here I am binging budgeting videos 8 years later

[@YNABofficial]

😂😂😂 🌻 Hannah

[@amandanance9136]

I do the baby steps saved $1000. Use my tax return to pay internet for the whole year and the rest $6500 pay for a year's car payment then pay off the car the following tax return.

[@raunholt]

I am 25 mouth ahead. Feels good😁

[@asomaliundmarieioane1352]

I just recently lost my job and only hubby is the one working .. it’s hard our rent is coming up and I DONT KNOW what to do 😢

[@tallie0713]

Great Video. I love YNAB. Slightly distracted by the fact that I feel like I've seen her in a Disney movie...? Is she the sassy best friend somewhere?

[@YNABofficial]

Well, this is the compliment I never knew I wanted. #sassybestfriend #itme -Hannah :)

[@rogofam]

You are funny… I love it

[@YNABofficial]

Haha, thanks Wawa!! 🌻Hannah

[@Butterflies.and.Tulips]

An Important tip that should have been mentioned is that by paying bills on time, you also save yourself a lot in late fees; which gives you a jump start on the next month’s amounts due. I had a tenant tell me she couldn’t pay rent on time because she didn’t get paid until the 7th of the month. I told her “when you get paid on the 7th, set aside rent money so the next month you can pay it on time and save yourself the $100 late fee.” She said she never thought about that before. I also think our schools are doing kids a great disservice by not teaching them these basic financial skills before they’re out in the real world on their own.

[@aliservetdonmez]

I really want to budget in future months but “monthly spending” goals make it hard to do so, as quick budgeting would keep adding money for a specific budget category regardless of [unknown] amount of spending that would occur in those months. Any suggestions?

[@YNABofficial]

Hey Ali! At that point, I would probably physically click into the next month in your budget and then begin to fund each category in the future month one by one utilizing the "Budgeted" column. Quick budgeting tools can be really super handy, but any time you need to bypass their functions, you can always manually add money to any category using the "Budgeted" column! I hope this helps! Let me know if you need further explanation on that or have more questions! -Hannah :)

[@aliservetdonmez]

You Need A Budget (YNAB) thank you Hannah

[@scott-uu3qc]

I like to get 3 months ahead.

[@ywamdan408]

I don't want to discredit this video at all, but truthfully I found this video to see if anyone else pays bills a year in advance, that's what I do and it's basically like retirement for the year, the money you make is all profit once your monthly bills have been covered for 12 months

[@doxiedonna]

Should you have all your debts paid off before you start trying to build a month ahead in your budget?

[@thebudgetmindset]

Doxie C I just got one month ahead and I still have debt. I did have a buffer (some money in my account) to cover little expenses. Hope this helps.

[@darlene971]

Yeah i suggest maybe start with one or two bills ahead. Little at a time. That way you can do both

[@YNABofficial]

Doxie, definitely not! I touched on this briefly in the video, but I was SO focused on paying off my student loans (debt that I have YEARS to pay off at a very low interest rate), only to realize that if some kind of tragedy (small or big) would strike now, I would have NO back-up money to help me out because I was throwing it all at student loans. Debt is certanly something we want to work hard at paying off sooner rather than later, but I realized having the security of being a month ahead in my finances NOW is actually a lot more healthy (and, dare I say, responsible!) than paying off my student loans sooner. I hope this helps!! I agree with Budget Mindset, Jeff, and Darlene!! Jeff especially worded it really nicely with the "preventing future debt" image. -Hannah :)

[@everettedl]

So....My operating understanding of an emergency fund has been to replace one's expenses for 3-6 months. So, if you can budget for 6 months ahead, you've setup an emergency fund by default! 🤯 The only downside is you don't have a nice, shiny category with a number that you know is 6 month's worth of income.

[@YNABofficial]

But the PLUS side is, if I'm ever put in the hopefully-never-happens-to-any-of-us situation where I needed a 6-month emergency fund, I could click forward to July in my budget RIGHT NOW and see that my mortgage payment is already ready to go, not just for July, but for June, May, April, March, and February!! To me, that's all the peace in the world. And still arguably pretty shiny 😂🙃 🌻 Hannah

[@everettedl]

@@YNABofficial Right?? I absolutely agree. You can't go wrong with either option since they both lead to peace of mind, which you cannot put a price on. Honestly, the fact that this is even a conversation for me indicates that ynab is doing its job, making me think about how to handle my money. It's pretty awesome! By the way, I enjoy watching you in these videos. You seem to have so much fun with all this 😊

[@YNABofficial]

Oh my gosh, I SO love to hear that!! I'm right with you, four or five years ago I was literally just spending money hoping I never hit $0, and nevvvver thinking about the future or emergencies or a life change. Now we're actively preparing for all those things with every passing day that we use YNAB. It has been such a gift. And THANKS, I do make sure to have a blast doing my job, and I'm so lucky I have one so perfectly built for that! 🌻 Hannah

[@supreme5580]

I always got top bunk and it sucked!

[@izzyd.9864]

In this time having a fully funded budget a month ahead would be a game changer.

[@matthewheadland7307]

Shoot! One month late on the latte! Sorry Hannah!!🥑

[@mra0ul]

Hoping someone will read this comment on this old video. How do you budget for a month ahead but stop yourself from overspending past a month's worth of budget? Will it color red if I spend more than I planned on?

[@YNABofficial]

Hi Oule, good question! Let's say you budget $400 into Groceries in April, and then $400 into Groceries in May. YNAB knows that those April dollars are specifically meant for April, and those May dollars are specifically meant for May. So if you spend $450 on April groceries, yes, your April Groceries category will turn red. It won't cover that overspending with your May Grocery money. It's going to prompt you to cover that April overspending with other money in your April budget. I hope that helps! :) - Ben M

[@BlackPrimeMinister]

A funny woman is irresistable. Men don't have a monopoly on charisma.

[@catherineedwards3203]

Where did you get your cute piggy bank?

[@YNABofficial]

Hey Catherine! Bought it white on sale at Michaels, spray painted it Banksy color, and hand-painted on the Banksy charm in black :) Gotta have his little side smirk! -Hannah :)

[@zacharybartels6856]

"Baby steps?" Are you trying to get sued?? 😂

[@JohnSmith-qh6zh]

"Getting a month ahead" is nothing new. It was actually the entire point of YNAB when Jesse was selling the Excel version around 2007. I was one of his first customers. You were supposed to build a one month buffer. Then you were always supposed to be spending "last month's income" on this month's bills. Why he changed that I don't know. But THAT WAS how YNAB started FYI. Ask Jesse if you think I'm wrong. I have his original handbook and excel spreadsheet to this day.

[@YNABofficial]

Absolutely John! It's always been the founding principle of YNAB from it's very inception! It's what makes us us :) Wanted to share it with the world! -Hannah 🌻

[@user-vv6cb9vo7d]

How does YNAB work if you have $4 million in the bank?

[@YNABofficial]

Same old way! Budget into the future, budget for your true expenses, and stuff that retirement, HSA, and any other asset accounts as much as you're able. I can't imagine how fun it would be to budget $4 million!! 🤯🤤 -Hannah 🌻

[@user-vv6cb9vo7d]

@@YNABofficial But the 4 million covers everything and it can also produce more income from investments. How would I know what my limit is to spend on going out or traveling? How would I know what is too much?

[@user-vv6cb9vo7d]

@@YNABofficial May you do a video on high income budgeting? Say $50 million?

[@YNABofficial]

Hmm, we'll have to look into! I know some content has come out on the blog recently regarding high income earners! Lemme link ya 😎 This one came out in October! www.youneedabudget.com/5-tips-for-high-income-earners-using-ynab/ And this one just released last week! www.youneedabudget.com/6-more-tips-for-high-income-earners-using-ynab/ -Hannah 😎

[@latashakelley3550]

So a month ahead is just your fixed expenses? And not your debt bills

[@samsantana]

I'm about 5 months ahead... that is I'm counting on income coming in 5 months from now to pay for my bills today! 😂😶🤔😢😭

[@samsantana]

All kidding aside, this is exactly the reason I'm still using YNAB 4, the newer, cloud version doesn't allow to budget way ahead of time. I'm actually 5-6 months ahead and it's so much easier to manage my budgeting being able to 'see' actual budgets for say December (we're currently in June) so I know exactly how much I'll be able to save that month and probably allocate a bit more to my gifts category and see how that will impact my finances for Jan next year (without having to wait for December to come along). PLEASE!!!! add this feature to the cloud based app and I won't hesitate for a second to jump onto that.

[@YNABofficial]

Hey Alex!! You actually absolute CAN budget into the future with the app! This help doc will show you how it works! The only thing you're not able to do is view the months side by side like you're used to in YNAB 4. Doesn't hurt to use a free trial and give the app a shot to see if you like the future budgeting in-app! docs.youneedabudget.com/article/230-future-budgeting -Hannah 🌻

[@samsantana]

@@YNABofficial Thanks for your reply Hannah, I still think that being able to view those months ahead is a lot more user friendly than having to skip month by month to the end of the year per se and then work your way back to adjust preceeding months budgeted amounts. It may be just a visual thing but a more global view could be a real plus for some users. Love your videos btw 👍

[@YNABofficial]

Alex-thanks for the detail! I will totally shoot this feedback off to our design and developing teams. We'll get it on our radar! -Hannah 🌻

[@nyleveross4602]

so with a month ahead are you constantly contributing to it ?

[@YNABofficial]

Yup! I always just continue contributing to whatever month I'm funding at the time! So right now, even though it's July, we have July and August fully budgeted for. So whenever either one of us gets a paycheck this month, we click ahead into September and continue funding all those categories as much as we can until we'll eventually hit October! 🌻 Hannah

[@IncrementaTuCartera]

🤔 a month ahead .... goal 2022

[@trecinac4820]

Does one month ahead mean you covered ur monthly bills, groceries , gas and true expenses?

[@YNABofficial]

Yup! I will say, some people just strive to get a month ahead on their bills-the mortgage, utilities, but also probably groceries and gas-and once they do that, they start funding the bills in the following month. Just getting ahead in the essentials. *I* consider getting a month ahead funding evvvery sinnngle category in my entire spending plan for that next month! Our budget right now has every category fully funded in November (even fun money and money for future haircuts and our next bag of espresso beans), and about half our categories funded for December! If we were ever in a financial bind, I'd likely move money from those "just for fun" categories (like haircuts and espresso beans) toward more pressing needs, but I like knowing every single dollar for the future month is accounted for. But truly, you can choose to get ahead in whatever categories give you the most peace of mind! All up to you! 🌻 Hannah

[@trecinac4820]

@YNABofficial as of today Oct 31st I have November bills funded ( including monthly and non monthly expenses), half the transportation, grocery ...still trying to get ahold of my ture expenses but it feels amazing knowing im slowly breaking the paycheck cycle, most of November pays will go to funding Dec monthly bills

[@4citi]

How did she catch me about to close the video? Clearly this month ahead rule allows you to see the future. All YNABers will become X... wait... Y-MEN? Never mind, I'll stop procrastinating and do my budget.

[@dwaynedemaurivert8638]

Took me 2 months to get 30 days ahead

[@breezybre2670]

Please , please , please make these videos without background music.

[@sallycowan4238]

So.....if we attempt this......should we choose 1 category at a time and when you have a month ahead in that one...more on to the next??? Hmmmmmmm.........

[@NS-pf2zc]

I have done that. I also will take the excess left in a category, say groceries has $50 left after the end of the May. I then zero it out by sending it to "to be budgeted" then clicking over not to June, but to July and adding it to July's grocery budget. Tax returns are like turbo boosts for getting a month ahead.

[@doxiedonna]

@@NS-pf2zc why do you put that $50 in July and not June? I don't understand why you wouldn't roll it over to June. Just curious, Donna C

[@NS-pf2zc]

@@doxiedonna So we get paid once a month. At the end of May, there is $50 left in Groceries. June 1 we get a paycheck for the month of June. So we fill up all the categories for June. But I still have 50 left from May. Instead of leaving that to roll over into June and increasing June's groceries by 50, I put it in July. That helps me grow a month ahead.. slowly. We actually used a tax return to get a month ahead, but the method I just described is to build that to two ahead. I hope that explains it better.

[@56freckles]

@@NS-pf2zc This is SO helpful, thank you so much for sharing!! I understand the concept of working a month ahead, but no one could explain how to actually do that using the software. It finally clicked. Thanks a ton!!

[@NS-pf2zc]

@@56freckles You're very welcome! It took me quite a while to figure it out too.😉