Sunny
Recycles dryer sheets
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2013
- Messages
- 236
Part of what helped us get to where we are is curtailing our spending years ago and going on an envelope budgeting type system. Not the actual envelops with cash in them for different categories, but using electronic software.
That software, YNAB, went subscription based this year (with less features) and I am searching for an alternative. But more than not really wanting to pay a monthly fee, I also am not sure what to do with money that pools.
For instance, we don't need to move funds from investments to our checking to only assign into a category that won't be used for years (new car) or months and months (home repairs).
We both feel better being proactive, as in assigning X amount of money in 20 or so categories, then tracking that amount. This gives peace of mind knowing we have Y amount of money in a category before spending it. The services such as Mint or our credit card that categorize spending is looking backwards, not forwards. Not the same peace of mind / knowing exactly where you are.
Did anyone use YNAB? Do you still?
If you use something else to keep track of spending categories, what is it?
That software, YNAB, went subscription based this year (with less features) and I am searching for an alternative. But more than not really wanting to pay a monthly fee, I also am not sure what to do with money that pools.
For instance, we don't need to move funds from investments to our checking to only assign into a category that won't be used for years (new car) or months and months (home repairs).
We both feel better being proactive, as in assigning X amount of money in 20 or so categories, then tracking that amount. This gives peace of mind knowing we have Y amount of money in a category before spending it. The services such as Mint or our credit card that categorize spending is looking backwards, not forwards. Not the same peace of mind / knowing exactly where you are.
Did anyone use YNAB? Do you still?
If you use something else to keep track of spending categories, what is it?