If Money's Tight, Do This and Stretch Your Dollars in YNAB

[@jazzam0razz]

One of the best tips i’ve gotten from the ynab community about stretching my dollars is to start with carving away just $5 from targets on categories with variable/negotiable spending. It’s amazing how much money you can “find” that way and not really feel the impact in other categories.

[@benjamindon156]

There is no YNAB without HIFH. Let's get this gal a raise!

[@eldiablopotato]

Your statement, "I can get this next time," really resonated with me. I've been noticing myself trying to justify unnecessary purchases. While I could use my fun money, I've started adding those items to a dedicated "Material Goods" category. I list the price but leave the target date blank. Later, if I have extra funds, I allocate some money or end up deleting the item months later.

[@molliemahaffey7469]

amazing

[@AF-gb6ed]

Timely video!!!! We are done with our grocery budget for the week. I made pizzas and ran out of cheese. Well, some personal pan pizzas didn’t get cheese 😂😂😂😂😂 I feel so much more empowered with YNAB. Yes I could go to the store and get more cheese. But after really thinking about it I said it’s not a big deal 😂 YNAB has really had me thinking about how to use our resources very differently and I love it!

[@grandspartan1176]

I've done a fresh start every January for the past few years, and it really helps me focus what is coming in the year ahead.

[@awinnett]

We started YNAB back in February when money was leaving faster than it was coming in and we were relying on the Credit Card Float. It's been half a year later and we have learned to live within our means. Except we haven't really figured out how to embrace our true expenses. So I am really looking forward to sitting down with clean start at the top of the calendar year and really figuring out what our longterm goals for 2025 and 2026 are and how that will shape the budget for the year. I already have some plans for changes to make. But I am proud of how we have paid down debt and increased our savings in the past few months.

[@NanetteLoves2Budget]

It takes time to get ahead of true expenses. Even if you only pick one predictable but unscheduled event to plan for now, you will be SO PROUD when the time comes and you have money set aside for it. This is true, even if you haven’t yet saved the full amount. It is one of the best feelings ever! If there’s one or two things that you worry might happen before you’re ready, save 10 bucks for them right now. Even a small start as a start. In the meantime… Major kudos on the debt pay down and all the other progress you’ve already made. Congratulations! 🎉🍾

[@billhenry7833]

I cannot believe it took an app for you to start living within your means.

[@jessicajohnson9106]

​@billhenry7833 It's great that you were born knowing how to budget! For the rest of us, we need tools/guidance to learn how to do things, shocking, I know!

[@Donmelissanicky]

@@billhenry7833 I can't believe you can't be supportive. 🤷‍♀

[@YNABofficial]

AMAZING work!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Honestly, I had no clue what my expenses were before YNAB. Sure, I paid them every month, but as long as the bank account never hit zero (and it did a few times 😶), I thought I was safe. Nanette is right that true expenses become more natural and build up more overtime! If you're in the middle of paying down debt, you might not be able to put as much as you hope to put in there every month, but one day all that debt will be gone and it's like you get a RAISE! My greatest tip with true expenses would be, even if you don't have the wiggle room to start putting extra money toward them yet, ANY time you think of one (annual care insurance, your tax filing software you buy every March, your kids karate class tuition you pay twice a year, or even just rainy day funds like car repair and home repair), add them as categories to YNAB. Set the targets you need to meet them. If you're not in a position to be able to fulfill them every month yet, you can snooze those targets at the start of the month, but this way they're staying on your radar, and one day you'll be funding them without even blinking twice! True expenses saved my financial booty. 🌻 Hannah

[@mittendad]

Great video as always Hannah! I too really appreciated the "I can get this next time," instead of "do I really need this right now?"

[@YNABofficial]

Yes! It's amazing what a little tweak to the syntax can do for our brains! 🌻 Hannah

[@AdamACastaneda]

The intro is so real 🫠

[@abrieladams]

Finally! A video for me and my stage of life lol. I’m still trying to get a month ahead here.

[@YNABofficial]

YAY! I'm glad to hear that! And I appreciate this feedback! Definitely don't want anyone to feel like their scenario is getting neglected. All stages matter so much! Will take this note away with me! 🌻 Hannah

[@valerieproctor517]

The fresh start we did in January was AMAZING! It really did help me realize where there was a bit extra!

[@toddw8396]

I never understood the power of fresh start feature, until I tried it. Start of New Year is great time to reconsider needs and priorities. 🎉

[@YNABofficial]

Yes! We always clutch so tightly to our target amounts, like "I COULD NEVER CHANGE THIS." But getting that clean slate, fresh start can make all the difference to TRULY reprioritizing our dollars. Never underestimate! 🌻 Hannah

[@debratakagawa4764]

Your first suggestion was absolutely brilliant. I don’t need to revamp my budget right now but if I did I know the process of starting over with all my sinking funds plunked into my ready to assign would give my hubby and I a ton of flexibility to reevaluate our priorities.

[@toddw8396]

“…you might have a house full of gremlins…” 😆💀 Hopefully not Gizmo, the Mogwai.

[@lockenlinna]

I needed this video! It inspired me to rearrange my budget and order it by priority

[@BlackNekoHime]

These are great tips. I just found out about the "fresh start" option which helped out so much this month. I have been using YNAB for a couple of years now and have restarted the budget like a dozen times and I finally feel like the concepts are clicking. I so appreciate these quick tips, too. Thank you very much!!

[@shonnieroberson6762]

Love the video!!❤ Congratulations on 20yrs🎉

[@funwithjrob]

I have made a holding account for each category group. They are like mini savings accounts for each group of categories. Then I review what bills are coming up and then move the money from the holding accounts/mini savings to the categories that need them the most. For example I have a Misc Holding, Annual Expense Holding, etc

[@shadowandbosco]

very helpful tips - I'm going to look over my budget again - thanks for all your great work

[@av8r22]

Outstanding video Hannah!! You’re so right!! Find the money first!

[@raynebair]

I have a set list of categories that I feel comfortable playing "whack-a-mole" with so I am way more conscious of how much I spend on what. The rest of the categories, I'm just not willing to compromise on. That has helped a lot. I started YNAB in May and I'm looking forward to a fresh start next year. I think it will be good to re-evaluate my priorities and make some changes. Maybe get my husband on board.

[@nurh6538]

I’m having major anxiety going for the fresh start button… Like I know I need it but aaaaah I spent so long on my current budget!

[@Donmelissanicky]

Your description with "the HOA increases" hits home! My HOA has increased our monthly fees 20% the last two years and 10% this coming year. Housing market is out of control and interest rates are higher than when I bought my place 2 and 1/2 years ago so there is nowhere else to go right now. It doesn't help that those coworkers or neighbors you speak of are constantly saying how poor they are after they've come home from a week-long trip to Ireland. Sure, it would be lovely to save for a trip to ANYWHERE, but right now I'm just trying not to go broke. I'm drowning, and constantly refiguring my budget, but somehow I'm still "afloat". Kinda. I do feel that YNAB has put me more in control of where my money is going, even if I have to reevaluate my budget often.

[@YNABofficial]

Nooooooo 🫠🫠🫠 That's an insane price hike!! My word, I'm so sorry. My husband and I are CONSTANTLY relieved we bought our house when we did (nearly three years ago), but man... it still doesn't make life cheap, just cheaper than it COULD'VE been if we waited. Rooting for you! Afloat is a thousand steps ahead of drowning! Always remember that all of those things can be on the table for you one day-new cars, international trips, all that-but if the main priority right now is finding stability in your current expenses, you're doing the right thing by making that #1! You got this!! 🌻 Hannah

[@AngelStormee]

Finally, a video title that speaks to me.

[@robyn_southafrica]

Great tips 👍🏾 cute dress 😍

[@lisaroper421]

Nice tips!

[@tfrizz2050]

I feel so seen right now! 😅

[@raindown1321]

I'm not usually the type to do this...but where did you get your shirt? I love that style!

[@NanetteLoves2Budget]

It’s so cute!

[@michellemorales401]

Whenever we need more stretch from our dollars, I switch to a bare-bones budget. 🤑

[@janelmoore1940]

For us it's a lot about cash flow so we are super specific with our dates, especially with yearly subscriptions. That isn't due for 10 months? We'll start funding it later when maybe money is less tight. Yes that means setting aside more the closer we get but we can do that because our priorities shift constantly to accommodate just that.

[@billhenry7833]

Payday. I’m in the red. Can’t get water out of a rock.

[@wpuymac]

I appreciate your candor, Hannah. And I want to encourage you that you are the best person to take care of your kid every day. :)

[@CapturedMemoriesPhotoSolutions]

I love how you did the fresh start with a baby on the way. Kids are expensive, but it doesn't last forever. Before you know it he will have his own YNAB budget and you'll have wiggle room in your budget again. Will we see you at the YNAB fanfest?

[@valentinahoyos8014]

I just lent a large amount of money to my friend who needed my help... but I have no idea how to log this transaction the best way possible in YNAB... I know my friend will for sure pay me back monthly for the next year without interest. Help Hannah!!... Would love a video on how to handle this the best way possible, is there a way this doesn't affect my reports showing it as a large expense and showing his payments as income?

[@duckfarmer8630]

Life to too expensive!

[@billhenry7833]

OMG, YNAB’s new screen to move money is horrible. This is the worst update ever. Please put it back.

[@fsmoura]

_How to YNAB When Money's Tight_ *Step 1:* Go ahead and spend it anyway. *Step 2:* Spend a few months awkwardly avoiding YNAB. When it's time for reconciling, mutter some lame excuse and scurry away as fast as possible. *Step 3:* Live in shame. (" -﹏-)

[@lisaroper421]

Step 4: internet stranger cheers you on!! You can do it! It is yucky and hard, but always better to *know* than to live in fear.