Source
r/ynab•
EngrProf42

[RAVE] January Surprise

Rave

So, I have been really broke all December. Cancelling self-care to buy Christmas presents, postponing buying medicine, etc. I've was thinking to myself "I've worked so hard on my budget but it's pointless. I'm just getting more behind."

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So, when my paycheck came in, it was about $500 more than my mortgage so I was preparing myself for more struggle. But when I went to YNAB and the bank, I had way more money than I thought. Turns out, My Mortgage Was Already Budgeted. So in December, I was YNAB broke, not really broke.

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I don't know why it didn't gel for me. But in January, I get 3 paychecks (on the bi-weekly thing) and I should be able to get to 30 days paid ahead. I can't believe how I went from broke to getting ahead! It's really working! It's worth my effort! All that struggle in December is paying off!

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(Sorry for all the ! but that's how I feel right now!)

Posted Jan 4, 2019, 7:49 PM UTC

14912
dakinemaui•

Yep, YNAB-broke is a thing, but a good thing. Keep up the good work!

54
EngrProf42OP•

Thanks.

3
ordonezalex•

I think using YNAB creates a cycle of this feeling. At least, it has for me.

You give every dollar a job, which creates scarcity, and gives you that nervous feeling you had in December. Then next month comes around, and nothing bad really happened, because you prioritized. It allows you to celebrate and congratulate yourself.

Good job!

25
5pointed•

You give every dollar a job, which creates scarcity, and gives you that nervous feeling

This. I went from having to worry about insufficient funds charges a few years ago to now feeling like I'm broke when a budget category gets low. I used to look at the balance in my checking as a whole, and I always ran out before payday. I just realized upon reading your comment that my perspective has really shifted. Now, instead of focusing on the overall balance, I focus on keeping my budget categories funded. It really breaks it down into smaller, more achievable goals. I really feel that scarcity when I have a category that gets low, even though my overall balance is in good shape. Instead of worrying about getting an insufficient funds charge, I worry about building the category back up and increasing my cushion. A much better, less stressful worry to have.

26
EngrProf42OP•

One of the things that psychologists say motivates changes in behavior is a feeling of scarcity. You're right, that is probably one reason YNAB works so well.

8
Buggs5347•

Yes it is an awful feeling until you get past being in debt and really into having your emergency fund regularly contributed to. I went through the first phase (getting out of debt) prior to starting YNAB. I was simply using a spreadsheet listing my bills and debts and budgeting every dollar at payday from listening to Dave Ramsey's radio show. To tell you the truth, I felt grateful and totally miserable at the same time when applying my dollars to each line item at payday. But, I could really see myself making headway in getting through $20,000 of credit card debt. I didn't even budget for a lot of "true expenses" back then. I just committed to never buying clothes or extras or spend any kind of money other than paying off debt and absolute necessities like groceries, eeking out the occassional gift for close family birthday or Christmas. I have to say it was depresing a lot of the time. Then, when I had it paid off, I thought, I need something a bit better than my own spreadsheet, when I found YNAB. Still took me a bit to get over the dread feeling, but I saw the beauty of YNAB principles and method within a week or two, when I had a couple of unplanned expenses for my car and something else. I could easily see where i could move the money from to get it done. Now, not quite 2 years after starting with YNAB, I have 6 months of expenses saved in a decent paying savings account and plenty of money in my checking account. I don't spend a dime unless I know where it is coming from. My age of money is 190, my days of buffering are 297. And, I still owe no other debt than my mortgage, as I pay my credit cards off, at least weekly. I allow myself some "fun money" to easily get through to the next payday for any incidentals I may want to use it for. Life couldn't be sweeter and easier since YNAB.

3
theknucklepuck•

I've been using YNAB for years and I constantly feel YNAB-broke. At some points it can feel frustrating because I don't have the money to get some of the things I'd like. But then I take a step back and recognize that without YNAB, I'd be a lot worse off. It always makes me think twice about my priorities.

16
FinibusBonorum•

I had exactly the same feeling. Had to budget January and couldn't quite make ends meet, so we decided which things to go low on. Like you, not actually broke, just YNAB-broke.

A week later, a paycheck arrived that we had completely forgot. Wow, free money! We could immediately put that to good use. Thanks YNAB :-)

3
rebajaybits•

I am glad for you! This time of year the YNAB broke feeling really gets to me since I usually have some wiggle room but Santa took all my wiggle away from me this year.

2
EngrProf42OP•

Yep, Santa has a way of doing that!

2
OkapiCopy•

I’ve been using YNAB for the last 5 years off and on (fell off track this fall- but I’m back on for 2019!!) and it has honestly changed my view of money so much. I feel like I have a clear path of where I should be headed with my finances, and while a $500 emergency would have ruined me 3 years ago- I can now take that in stride! It’s amazing. Stick with it!!

2
MonkeezUncle•

Just ditto. Nuf said.

1