YNAB You Need A Budget

[moochila]

I had a category when I first started that has some money in it and I could really use it for another category.

I want to keep track of where the money is going (rather than just pretending it came from the original category with the money-hope that makes sense!)

Does anyone know how to just "grab" that money out? What would happen if I just deleted the category?

Thanks for any ideas!

[brown685]

If you want a record of the money move, you have two options.

1: budget the old category with a negative amount. This will bring it to zero. Then add the money to the other categories' budget.

2: Pick an account and create a transaction called Category transfer. leave inflow and out flow as zero. Split the transaction. Set the first line to your old category and give it an outflow of $X. Make the second split the category it is going to and set its inflow to $X. This creates a zero money transaction that moves money from one category to another category.

James

[moochila]

Thanks James!

The first option looks more manageable than the second! I will give it a try.

[malisab]

Thanks James!

The first option looks more manageable than the second! I will give it a try.

The first is easier but doesn't leave a trail. I generally use the first. I experimented with the second when I first started and thought I'd want to look back and see something like that. I've found that I don't need to. I whack-a-mole too often to worry about a trail. My budget is fluid, but thoughtful.

[brown685]

I also prefer the 1st method.

malisab is correct in that the first leaves less of an obvious trail. However, in most cases the explicit trail is not needed.

James