http://www.youneedabudget.com/support/faq/
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There's a lot to absorb here on the forums, and it's growing with every day. In an effort to help out people who are here mainly to find an answer to a burning question that they have I've started this FAQ list.
Please feel free to add to the list and all that I ask is that you keep the same format as below for consistency and please try to avoid asking questions here folks. Instead, follow the instructions in the very first FAQ below.
Thanks!
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Q: If I don't find the answer I'm looking for here, what do I do?
A: First check out Kristen's library of helpful threads and if you're still stuck then pick a forum that closely matches your topic and start a new thread. Just be sure to carefully name your new post in the subject line when you do so to get an answer quicker. You can read more about that very important step here.
Q: I liked to make a couple of suggestions about this list but don't want to start a completely new thread, where can I post my thoughts?
A: Please post any comments/suggestions or rants (do we ever have those here
) on "The FAQ List: Discussions about the list" threadQ: Do I have to read every single FAQ here to find the answer I'm looking for?
A: No, just use the search function of your browser (usually ctrl-F) and you should get to what you need pretty quickly.
Q: How do I insert links or do some of the other cool formatting that I see people do?
A: Easy! Check out this thread.
Q: I lost my license key! How do I retrieve it?
A: Look up your order using this form. Please be sure to type in the email you had when you originally ordered even...if...you...don't...have...that...email...anymore as that is the one the system will have you recorded under unless you had us update it for you before this.
Q: I need to re-download the software again, do I have to pay?
A: No! If you want to download YNAB Pro then use the form in the answer just above this one. If you need to download YNAB 3 then you can do so directly from the home page. In either case the file that you will download is the same as the full version and only lacks the key. As long as you have that (the key) then you're all set. If not, then see the FAQ directly above this one for what to do to look up your order.
Q: My email address/name/mailing address has changed, how do I update it?
A: Easy! Use this form.
Q: I ordered YNAB but I haven't seen any emails! What happened and how do I fix it?
A: One of two things;
- You mis-typed your email on the order form and we don't know where to send you the links
- You have a spam filter of some sort blocking our emails
Q: My bank is BOA and they will only allow me to download text or PDF, can I still import?
A: Yes! According to this Bank of America FAQ page, they do offer Quicken formated "QIF" files for download. If you scroll to the bottom of the page they have instructions on how to download your statement.
Q: My bank only allows me to download CSV files. What format do they have to be in for YNAB to import them?
A: Download this sample CSV file. It shows the exact format that YNAB needs as well as the instructions that you need to help you out.
Q: Will YNAB 3 work on my Mac?
A: Yes!
Q: Have you made any plans to get YNAB on my iPhone or iPod Touch?
A: Yes! Check out this page to learn more!
Q: What about Blackberry?
A: A forum member has created a web page code with which you can upload your exported budget to a website to view on your Blackbery (or iPhone for that matter). As for where we're headed with mobile options looking forward? Most likely it will involve a secure web hookup designed for mobile phones that works with your budget. As much as we'd love to create an app for every platform there are simply too many to keep up with and support whereas a web based solution works for the majority of people.
Q: I really wanted to order a disc but got the download instead. How do I get a disc now?
A: YNAB 3 isn't available on disc yet and won't be until it gets out of beta.
Q: I clicked on the link for the ebook but it only loads the first few pages, what do I do?
A: Go to the link, right-click and choose 'Save As...' to save it to a folder on your computer. Once the download is complete you will be able to read it at anytime and much faster than via the website.
Q: The users manual won't load for me either!
A: You can do the same as above or you can read it online on Scribd.com! You can read the YNAB Basic guide here and the YNAB Pro guide here.
Q: Do you have a printed copy of the manual that I can order or you can mail to me?
A: No. The high costs of printing it out for the very few that ask for it that way doesn't make sense for us to do so.
Q: Manuals are great and all but do you have a video I can watch to get setup instead?
A: Yes! You can find that video and more here: http://www.youneedabudget.com/support/tutorials/
Q: Do you have a demo of YNAB 3 that I can try out?
A: Yes!
Q: I purchased YNAB Basic (or Pro) but I'd like to upgrade to YNAB 3. Do I have to pay the full price?
A: No! Simply fill out this form: http://www.youneedabudget.com/discount-lookup/
Q: Will YNAB 3 run on my ____________ computer?
A: Yes!
Q: Where do I enter check numbers in YNAB 3?
A: In the top right hand corner of the register is a tiny gear shaped icon, click on it to see the settings to enable the check column.
Q: Why is my desktop full of YNAB icons?
A: What's happening is that YNAB has your desktop set as the default 'save to' folder for every time you save your file as well as when it makes automatic backups of the file. All you need to do to change this is to go to the file menu and click on 'settings' where you will see how to re-direct it to a different folder than your desktop
Q: I can't find my YNAB budget file, where would it be?
A: The default location for your budget file is in the 'My Documents\YNAB\' folder in Windows and it will have a ".ynab3" file name extension. On a Mac just do a Spotlight search for "*.ynab3".
Q: Do you have a [name of country] version?
A: YNAB 3 will work just fine as is in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or any other country if you can read and understand the English language.
Q: What about the currency symbols?
A: The currency settings in YNAB 3 are chosen from a list and are specific to each budget file that you make.
Q: I'd like to install the YNAB software onto more than one computer in my house, is that okay?
A: Yes, as long as it is only for the use of you and the people living in your house then it's fine.
Q: I'd like to install it on my computer at work, can I do that too?
A: Yes, as long as your employer allows it. The real answer to this question and the one above lies in the EULA below (the end-user license agreement)
EULA wrote:1. Grant of License. The Author hereby grants to you (an individual) the revocable, personal non-exclusive, and nontransferable right to install and activate the Software on multiple computers solely for your personal and non-commercial use. Sharing this Software with other individuals is in violation of this license.
Q: Can I import my bank transactions into YNAB?
A: If your bank is compatible with Quicken or MS Money, then it’s compatible with YNAB. YNAB 3 imports OFX, QFX, QIF, and CSV files from virtually every banking institution available.
Q: My bank only offers Quicken or MS Money formats, what do I do?
A: Just pick either one, it will work fine. Banks simply have a habit of referring to them by the software names instead of the underlying OFX, QFX and QIF names.
Q: Can't I just have YNAB go after the bank data for me?
A: No, in the current version of YNAB 3 you will have to download the file to your computer first and then import it into YNAB.
Q: I paid for YNAB 3 but it's asking me to buy it?!
A: By default every copy of YNAB ships - or downloads - as an evaluation copy. All this means is that it will run unrestricted for 7 days until stopping to work altogether. All you need to do to avoid the message that you are seeing, as well as eliminate the 7 day limitation, is to enter the license key that you should have received when you originally downloaded the software.
Q: I entered my key from the email but it doesn't work! What now?
A: Did you copy/paste it or type it in? Try copying it and pasting it as that is the best way. If it still won't work then contact support: http://www.youneedabudget.com/support/contact/
Q: I keep reading where people mention the 'methodology' or the 'Rules', what are they talking about?
A: As Jesse is fond of saying; "YNAB is a methodology first and a software second.". What he is referring to are the 4 Rules of the YNAB methodology. It is the reason why YNAB works so well and if you can understand the rules then the software will be that much easier.
Q: Okay, I have some money, how do I get started? (Rule 1: Give Every Dollar a Job)
A: If you don't tell your money what to do, then it simply won't work for you at all. Rule 1 is really the groundwork of any budgeting plan and it basically means what it says, that you need to put a plan in place for every single dollar that you have. Not what you think that you might have coming in but exactly what you actually have within your control right now and no further.
Q: How can I possibly budget for things months away from now or when the car breaks down? (Rule 2: Prepare for Rain)
A: Perhaps the single biggest reason that people get in trouble with money is that we don't look far enough ahead. That, and we seem to forget.
We forget that the car registration comes up due each year and that the insurance bill arrives all at once as well. Then of course the car will breakdown at some point, we may not know when, but it will happen.
What Rule 2 does is remind you that life happens. Whether it is expected - the insurance premium, the annual taxes, etc. - or unexpected, but eventual, - the car breaks down, the roof leaks, etc. - you need to prepare for it. All this means is that in the regular course of laying out your monthly budget, you need to budget aside some money to meet these "Rainy Day" type events. Do this, and you'll always be ready when it rains.
Q: What do I do if I spend more than I budgeted for? (Rule 3: Roll With the Punches)
A: What rule 3 does is smooth out the bumps in your budget, it allows you to be human, to make mistakes.
The idea here is that regardless of how diligent you may be with budgeting, life will happen, something truly unexpected will come up and you will have to overspend in some budget category. Normally this would trip up a budget since you can't possibly spend money that's not there. But when you are working with a full Buffer (Rule #4) and you have funds available in other budget categories (Rule#2), then you can afford to overspend in a category or two without having the whole budget implode.
Covering this overage is easy as well. In the YNAB software, if you were to overspend in any given budget category this month, then that overage would be absorbed by your entire "Available" when the next month begins. The "Available" by the way is comprised of all of last months income added up minus any overages you may have had. It is with that number that you lay out your budget each month before the month begins.
Q: What is a 'Buffer'? (Rule 4: Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck)
A: Plainly put, you live on last months income. All this means is that instead of planning your budget based on money that you expect to earn in the coming month, you instead fill out your budget, your "spending plan", using a known cash reserve which consists of everything that you earned last month. Then, as the current month goes along, you set aside each paycheck until the start of the new month arrives. This pile of saved money then becomes your new "Buffer" and thus the cycle repeats.
Budgeting this way eliminates the guesswork and provides a clarity to your finances that you never dreamed of before. Strive to get there, and you'll never go back to living paycheck-to-paycheck.
Q: Why don't my negative budget category balances carry over into next month?
A: See the Rule 3 explanation directly above.
Q: But I don't want to do this 'Rule 4 thing', is there a way around it?
A: Yes! If you overspend then you will see a small red arrow appear next to the overspent amount, click on it to change the settings.
Q: Can YNAB 3 print checks?
A: No, while we are expanding the capabilities of YNAB Pro on a continuous basis, check printing is not something that the software does at this time.
Q: How do I define income categories?
A: At the current time you are limited to only 2 types of income, this month and next month. If you'd like to keep various streams of income separate then you can do so using both the Payee field as well as the Memo.
Q: What is 'Income:Available next month'?
A: 'Income:Available next month' is money that flows into your life (from any source and at any frequency) that the software earmarks as available to spend next month. You will not begin to enter income as Primary until you have a buffer in place or are near the end of the month and no longer need the money in this month.
Q: What is 'Income:Available this month'?
A: 'Income:Available this month' is money that flows into your life from any source and at any frequency that you decide needs to be made available right now in the current month to budget (assign it to be spent or saved) as needed. Until you have a buffer in place, ALL income should be entered as 'Income:Available this month' unless, like above, you are near the end of the month and no longer need the money in this month. Then you can use 'Income:Available next month'.
Q: Will YNAB track investments?
A: No. Since YNAB's main goal is as a foundation for your money such that you can afford to invest it's not really well suited to tracking investments. While knowing where your investments stand and where they are headed is important of course, in most every case that sort of tracking is being done for you and can be either accessed online or via monthly statements.
The key difference with a YNAB budget is that it gives you tremendous control over your month-to-month cashflow such that you can better afford to invest not to mention freeing you up from the regular grind of money management to allow you focus on your investments.
Q: Can YNAB Pro import my old Money/Quicken data?
A: It can import the data, but it's not suggested.
The way that YNAB works is as a forward looking spending and savings management plan for your money. As such, it is not concerned with vast amounts of imported history. Having access to that history as a matter of record is important of course but it's more important to fully understand how YNAB works before loading in that much data. The main reason for this is that since YNAB works in a proactive way to help you decide where best to save and spend your money, if you suddenly import years worth of data then in order to keep your brand new budget from going completely out of whack you would have to go back to the earliest date of the imported data and budget each and every dollar to make it all match up in every single month. I'm sure that you can see that to do so would be tedious to say the least.
Q: I want my budget to start several months ago but YNAB won't let me go back at all in the budget. What do I do?
A: Create a new account in the register and make the starting date of the account the date that you want your budget to start on in the pop up window. Once you're done the budget window will allow you to back up to that date since it follows the register.
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There may well be more but it's late so I'll add to this as they come to me. Please feel free to add in your FAQ if you have an answer to go along with it. Otherwise please post your questions on another thread to keep this one from getting cluttered.
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