YNAB You Need A Budget

[bgedwards]

My mom recently passed away and she did all of my parents' banking, bill paying, etc. and my dad not only doesn't understand it, he doesn't want to be bothered. He has agreed to work with me on a budget but wants me to reconcile the account each month and just let him know how much money he has available each month. I wanted to just add his account to my YNAB Pro and just download and reconcile his account once a week or so to let him know that his money is okay but he banks at a different bank in a different state than I do. How do I set up his account in YNAB Pro?

Thanks,
Golda

[bowhuntr09]

I have YNAB 3 and have never used Pro, but why not just set up a completely new file for him? Is that possible in Pro?

[macduncan]

Yes that is totally the way to go. It is easy to switch between files. Otherise you would mixing too many things together and it could become unwieldy to manage together!

Bill

[bgedwards]

Bill, I have been using Pro for about a year, but I am not sure how to switch easily between two different YNAB budgets, etc. Would you tell me how to do that? Also, I am trying to decide if I want to do YNAB 3 or not...have you tried it? If so, what do you think?

[malisab]

From Golda's other thread.

I haven't had a problem downloading from my bank into different accounts...we have four at the same credit union.

I know you're considering upgrading to 3. I think that if you want to be able to continue to do that, you should wait until after the next update to move YOUR file over to 3. If you decide you want it, maybe, given your situation, it would be a good idea to get it and start your father's affairs in 3. Then, when you've read that it's 'fixed' in 3, then you could update your file. Or, just wait altogether.

Someone suggested I set up a different file for him and switch between but I don't know how to do that either.

I don't have Pro, never did. I am a Mac user and didn't have a new enough machine to deal with a windows emulator (or whatever...and didn't want to). I used Basic, the excel version prior to 3. So I'll let someone who's dealt with Pro handle that. I do think that would be the best thing for you to do in your situation. I don't know if you've got siblings or others who could question your accounts and his being 'tangled', but even if not, I'd say they would be best kept separate.

I guess I missed the discount. I didn't realize that we could buy it earlier. I was busy with my mom illness & death...

Sorry to hear about your mother. I had to deal with that when far too young. It's never easy.

[quote]...and just now found out that I could download a trial version so I guess I have to decide if I want to spend $60 now or not. Which do you use? Are you getting YNAB 3?

I think there's still some discount. It's just not as deep as it was. I think (again, didn't use Pro, so not entirely sure). Go here:
http://www.youneedabudget.com/discount-lookup/


And see what happens. (Maybe you already did?)

I bought Basic back in June-ish of last year. I started/stopped/started/stopped. Then when 3 was offered in mid-December I went back to Dec 1 and started fresh. No looking back. Even before 3, the rules/philosophy behind YNAB was seriously helping my finances, but since getting everything into 3, it's been measurably better. Partly because the improved interface and features have me more 'involved', partly because I'm ready for this 'more' now.

Keep in mind, that if you decide to do the trial, you can convert a Pro file to 3, but you can't convert it back. That's why I suggested maybe working with your dad's stuff in 3 for now, and your stuff in Pro. Or if you do the trial on 3, just 'play with it' a bit and see what you think.

Stick around and keep asking questions.

[xmxplxz]

I too am having some problems when multiple institutions are involved.

I have several accounts at my primary banking institution (a credit union); two checking accounts and two savings accounts. YNAB Pro 2.9 has no problem downloading files from that institution, one account at a time (that's the way the Credit Union set it up). However, I have other accounts in other places. At one of these other places, I have a credit card, an investment account, and an Equity Line of credit. This institution wants to download all three accounts in one .ofx file. And, when YNAB imports the file it puts all of the transactions into the primary checking account for my primary institution (credit union). This is a real pain.

I have found the account properties for each account in the register. However, some accounts are associated with account numbers and Financial IDs. Others have nothing in these boxes, and the Edit Properties menu selection only allows you to change the nickname of the account that appears on the register tab. How do I edit Financial ID and account number for each account in my register?

Thanks for any help.

[WairereRose]

Dave - did you get sorted anywhere? If not I'll wrack my brains for the expert in file conversions to point them to your question.