You Need A Budget (YNAB) Review
Welcome back to My Jamaican Vignettes. This week we are discussing You Need A Budget (YNAB). You Need a Budget is an online personal budgeting programme based on the envelope system developed by a privately owned American company of the same name. It is available via any internet browser or a mobile app. I have been using the mobile app (Android) for over a year.
You Need A Budget (YNAB) Review
I started using YNAB in October 2023 so it has been a little over a year. Now the mobile version as well as the app has support and information to help you set up but unfortunately, I didn’t read much before I started so I took around three months to finally figure how to create my budget each month.
The app costs USD $14.99 per month.
What I Love About YNAB
The user interface and mobile app is clean and easy to use. It is based on the envelope system so you have different categories of spending that you can customize and create based on your spending plan and lifestyle so things like groceries, rent or mortgage, your utilities but you can also create ‘envelopes’ for non-monthly expenses such as vacations or gift giving.
One of my favourite features is the “Reflect” tab where you can see just how much you’ve sent for the month so far.
The company is also active on social media. I follow them on TikTok and they often have useful and educational content that can help support how you use the platform.
New To Budgeting
If you are considering budgeting for the first time and may be overwhelmed I recommend doing a monthly money track to see where your money is going. Then research budgeting programme or software available. I know the Google Play Store has free options so maybe try one for two to three months to see if you can be consistent and get into the habit of tracking your spending and planning how you use your money.
You got this. You work hard for your money and you get to decide how you spend it.
Chantel DaCosta
Chantel DaCosta is a storyteller, editor and lifestyle blogger. She is passionate about mental health awareness and Jamaican women's own-voices stories.
2 Comments
Kimberly
I need to start budgeting better. I will definitely look into using one of those free apps before i commit to a paid one. Didn’t think of doing this before now, thanks Chantel.
Chantel DaCosta
To start you can just track your spending in December using the notes app in your phone just see what your expenses are for the month. December is a high spending month so perhaps do it again in January before committing to a budgeting app. But it is definitely worth doing.