Just in setting up my accounts and budgeting for this very first month my eyes have been opened. Take, for example, gas for our cars. Sure, I knew that we spent money on it, but how much to budget for it? I had no idea! We just use our debit card to fill up at the pump whenever we need it and never give it another thought. So many categories are like that. I was just assuming that the money would be there. Not anymore!
A lot of things have changed in the past 18 months for us. I became self-employed so my salary changed and we had to take on the responsibility of paying quarterly withholding taxes, etc., etc. Money started to feel a little too tight for my comfort level around the holidays so I decided this month I needed to change the way I was doing things. I am so glad that I found YNAB! Now I feel like there is hope for me to get this ship back on course.
