YNAB You Need A Budget

[Cheshireuk]

We have used quicken for the last 15 years or so, but last weekend I reloaded the Quicken software on my PC and was prompted to register on-line. The next thing I knew is that I was locked out due to an expired license! Complete news to me that the software had an expiry date. So a quick review of the options on the Internet suggested that YNAB was worth a look.

I downloaded the 34 day trial and was impressed by the clear layout and general ease of input. If you are used to Quicken, the way that you enter transactions is very similar. But the BIG DIFFERENCE is the focus on BUDGETS. It's early days but I am already convinced that YNAB will make a difference.

But the other things I like about YNAB is that I feel I have joined a community of people who are passionate about helping me to budget. On Sunday evening I tuned in to the live Webinar and listened to Malisa talk about YNAB with such enthusiasm that 5000 miles away I caught the YNAB bug. On Monday from the office I installed another trial version on my laptop PC and via dropbox I was able to sync with the Budget that I had created at home.

The really cool thing is that because we can install the software on multiple PC's, my wife has it installed on her net-book, and we have it installed on my laptop, oh and the App on my Iphone. We have both found it to be very easy to use and have set up all our accounts and initial budgets.

And I guess the important bit for YNAB is that we bought the full version on Monday night, $60 which worked out to be £39.27 well spent.

And just one final request, can you nice people produce a version of the YNAB software that runs on my IPad?

[blackdiamond]

I think you're right on with your assessment of YNAB. YNAB runs on Adobe AIR and I believe that this effectively eliminates it from working on tablets. It might happen in the future, but I wouldn't count on it for a long time.

[jessiebird]

It's early days but I am already convinced that YNAB will make a difference.

It absolutely will. It might take a couple of months while past non-budgeting gets sorted out but I think you will be very happy. Once you get some funds established for upcoming expenses, things get a lot easier. (I used Quicken starting in 1991, I think, which must have been early days.)

I only wish I had found YNAB sooner. I honestly think it has changed my life in under six months; that is not all YNAB, it's also the mindset that goes along with it and the support and camaraderie of other users. Welcome. You're going to love it here.

[kmorgan221]

As a 20 year quicken user I can absolutely say YNAB is the better option. The difference is in the method, and the software supports the method. Good luck and welcome.

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk

[Malisa]

I'm infecting people in a good way.

[DonGately]

I'm infecting people in a good way.

Let's hope the infection keeps spreading.

[Luna]

I tried to use Quicken a few years ago but I found it so cumbersome that I didn't stick with it for even a few weeks. I actually recorded my spending in my checkbook register, just like in the old days. That was fine to make sure I didn't bounce a check, but YNAB does so much more than that.

[Glowtape]

YNAB runs on Adobe AIR and I believe that this effectively eliminates it from working on tablets. It might happen in the future, but I wouldn't count on it for a long time.

On iPads, to be exact. There's an official AIR runtime from Adobe for Android phones and tablets.

[normlori1]

I too was a Quicken user, since 1997. From the beginning I was disappointed in how it handled budgeting, so I just stopped trying to budget! Not a good idea. I'm so glad to have found YNAB, it does exactly what I always wished a budget program would do. It does more actually, in that it doesn't just record what you are doing but it helps you to do the right thing.

[Planemaker]

YNAB runs on Adobe AIR and I believe that this effectively eliminates it from working on tablets. It might happen in the future, but I wouldn't count on it for a long time.

On iPads, to be exact. There's an official AIR runtime from Adobe for Android phones and tablets.

YNAB works perfectly on my Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet

[jan4jc164]

We started using Quicken and kept having to contact customer support over and over. My sister had a co-worker who told her about his conversion from Quicken to YNAB and we checked it out, requested our Q refund and are on board...very excited. It is still a bit overwhelming...took the first class the day i paid for the software, and it was really helpful. I have re-watched many of the training videos to get the harder stuff in my head like the reimbursements and cc handling. I love the forums although I could waste my life away browsing them. Glad to be a new member of the community.

[Turf_Hacker]

Welcome, we're glad you're here! In my opinion, you've found the best budgeting software and user community you'll find.

[jan4jc164]

Thanks...I have two questions. I have tried searching the forums but haven't found answers and I don't want to spend my life there. 1) How do a make a new post...obviously i have learned how to post on other people's posts but how do I create a new post thread? For example: This is my other question which could be a new post: We did some balance transfers from our Discover to two of our other accts. One we paid off and the other paid off a higher interest balance. (Purchases are 9.99% and OD advances are 21.15%-we paid off the higher of the two on our Visa) as Discover offered a 9,99% incentive. We then made several purchases on the Visa which we budgeted for in the current month. The actual question is this: Why does the Visa acct balance show -1249.01 and the Visa Budget Category Balance -2354.1. What did I log incorrectly and how do I fix it? Thanks for your help in advance.

[rpgman]

I absolutely love this software.
I just wish I found it sooner.

We still use Quicken for investment purposes and bill paying and do double entry.

6 weeks in using YNAB and it has opened our eyes to making better spending decisions.

Its one of the best software programs I have ever used and that's coming from a programmer.

Sent from my VM670 using Tapatalk

[jan4jc164]

Well, we currently do not have investments, except for 401Ks with jobs. We have too much debt. I actually pay all the bills through my bank's bill pay and that has been established for some time. When we started YNABing I set all of those auto pays up in the section down bottom for scheduled payments...so that part is easy. I have to adjust to budgeting per pay and not thinking of re-aligning categories as stealing from Peter to Pay Paul. We love the phone app...that's was the final straw that broke the Quicken back for us...now we have to learn to check the balances before spending. Looking forward to continue to learn.