YNAB You Need A Budget

[Logan]

I took a long break from trying (unsuccessfully) to make the budget work and now want to start again. I had customized all the catagories before I stopped and would save a lot of time starting again if I did'n't have to do it all over. Also, there are balances in several catagories from when i stopped that i need to delete. The problem is I haven't been able to find a way to "delete" any of the figures. I wish I could just start fresh using the catagories i had before only with "zero" balances. Is this possible or do I REALLY have to start over (completely) ?
I have always been able to see the benefits of this budget...just wish i had been able to make it work. Being computer "challenged" doesn't help. I have problems with ANY computer software and haven't the slightest idea what i'm doing 95% of the time.
I sure would appreciate any ideas (even if it is to quit using a computer...don't worry about being brutally honest.

Thanks
Logan

[lautzu]

Logan,

I'd start by upgrading to YNAB 3. While you want to retain those categories, and I empathize, the best way to build some momentum for yourself (perhaps ironically) is to start over. I'd wager the time you spend doing it will seem tiny if it helps you get back on track.

Before starting, I'd watch all the tutorials available for YNAB3 at http://www.youneedabudget.com/support/ and enroll in some of the free classes that are offered - there's an intro course offered on 9/18. Take all the support you can find - even though you're a veteran Pro user, treat YNAB3 like it's all brand new and make the most of your "beginner's mind."

There you have it, that's would I'd suggest. Very best of luck.

[virago317]

I took a long break from trying (unsuccessfully) to make the budget work and now want to start again. I had customized all the catagories before I stopped and would save a lot of time starting again if I did'n't have to do it all over. Also, there are balances in several catagories from when i stopped that i need to delete. The problem is I haven't been able to find a way to "delete" any of the figures. I wish I could just start fresh using the catagories i had before only with "zero" balances. Is this possible or do I REALLY have to start over (completely) ?

You don't have to start over... all you need to do is delete all of your register entries from each account, and delete ALL of the "budgeted" amounts in the budget screen for every month you ever entered them. Once you do this, you will have a completely blank file that you can use to start fresh. I would next save the blank file as "budget template" or something similar (so you will have a blank file to use if you ever want to start over again), then resave it as a different file with the name you want to use for your live budget file. If you ever mess up and want to start fresh without having to delete all your entries, just open that template file and resave it as a new budget -- quite a timesaver! Just let me know if you have any questions and I'll help break it down. (BTW, I'm still using YNAB Pro and love it, so I won't try to upsell you... )

[lautzu]

The OP said he has computer issues, so that was part of the rec for upgrading and starting over - all the support that is available with 3 that is not with Pro.

[virago317]

The OP said he has computer issues, so that was part of the rec for upgrading and starting over - all the support that is available with 3 that is not with Pro.

OK, good point... as long as he has the disposable funds to do so. If not, I can try to help (not too shabby with computers for a non-professional).

[ginger]

If you do decide to upgrade to YNAB 3, I believe it gives you the the option when you start it the first time to keep just your categories and accounts from your old file without all the budget numbers and register data.

[bookman413]

To make a separate point, the budget doesn't just "work". You have to change your behavior and begin to make your financial decisions from within the budget. Once you decide you want to commit to making your finances work for you, you will have a reason to stick to the budgeting process. And the budgeting process is going to require behavioral changes in your spending patterns and possibly your earning patterns as well (though most people focus on the spending part).

Just stick with it and this time don't let yourself give up. When it comes choice time, do the responsible thing for yourself and your wellbeing and keep working with your budget every week. Carry a piece of paper or an index card with all of your available balances by budget category. Keep it in your wallet and refer to it before spending any money. This will help you to learn to begin to work from within your budget framework and always consider it before making a spending decision.

And make every spending decision an actual spending decision based on your budget. It will be foreign and tedious for about 15 days but after that you will be on your way and much more smoothly than you could have imagined.

You are strong enough and determined enough to make this a success.

[bookman413]

As far as quitting using a computer, you can.

The general budgeting principles espoused by YNAB are excellent and don't require a computer to execute. You can set up your budget the same way YNAB does, using the same layout, in a small notebook or on a couple sheets of paper and it will be JUST as successful as long as you stick with it and update it regularly, I would say, weekly.

Just make sure that you keep a small notebook with you and record everything you spend and what it's for. make columns for the date, amount, whether it was a cash, visa or whatever expense, and what it was for. Write down every expense this way and every time money comes into your hands write that in too.

Every week total it up by category, put check marks next to the transactions you have just totalled up (so you don't total them twice the next week) and adjust your budget balances by that amount. You can put a copy of your budget in the last few pages of the book and write the figures in pencil so you can adjust them by the week.

People have budgeted on paper for a couple of centuries before computers existed. I have done it myself for stretches of several months at a time. In truth, it's not that much more time consuming than using YNAB's software. It takes a little more time to add things up, but it doesn't take any more time to record things and in fact may take LESS time to record things once in a notebook than to, say, record them in a notebook and then enter them into software later.

If you have a photocopier available, once a week photocopy (or take a digital photo) of the pages of your budget book so you;d have a backup if you lost the book. Or make a second copy of the updated budget sheet every time you update your book and stash the copy somewhere in your house 'just in case."

Or don't even bother with that and if you lose the notebook just start again from scratch. (I recommend having a backup though).

The key is, whichever way you are using, persist in doing it and it will work for you.

Tell you what, if you check back in a couple of days, I may update this post with a link to a couple of pictures of my budget notebook so you can see how it works.