Top 5 YNAB Tips from YouTube Commenters

You spoke, we listened! This episode is chock full of tips and tricks from YouTube-watching YNABers around the globe! Tune in for these users tips on building Siri shortcuts, tracking your car's overall health, and how to crush your odds-and-ends to-do list using YNAB.

Ivan's "5 Tips for High-Income Earners" Blog Post:

Mark's "Using Hashtags in Your Transaction Memos" Blog Post:

How to Build a YNAB Siri Shortcut:

A VERY special thank you to our ten brilliant, generous YNABers that shared their ideas with the rest of our channel!
theProf Nolan
Harrison Spain
James Bourassa
Jennifer Gunter
Priscilla Davis
Paige Atkins
Ivan Smirnov
wartewartewarte
Vanessa Schweihs
SkorpionUK

- TIMESTAMPS -
0:00 Top 5 YNAB Commenter Tips
0:59 Tip #1: Scheduling "To-Dos" in YNAB
2:52 Tip #2: Flagging Cars to Track Performance
4:19 Tip #3: Using Hashtags in YNAB
7:15 Tip #4: Build a YNAB Siri Shortcut
8:45 Tip #5: A New Fixed vs Flexi Category Group Structure
11:50 Keep 'Em Coming!

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[theprofnolan]

I have achieved internet immortality and I didn't even have to budget for it. Thanks for the shout out and yes, it is short for Professor.

[NS-pfzc]

Oh this is clever. I totally think this should be an ongoing series.

[pdavis]

MY GOSH!!! THEEEE Hannah said my name!! 🤩 I hadn't watched a YNAB video in a while but love to hear other people's tips! So, imagine my surprise when I heard my name and tip! 😍😎😄 Thanks!

[graciousoctober]

I love the idea of moving the fixed expenses to the bottom! Scheduled transactions are great for remembering birthdays and funding the appropriate gifts category.

[Schlomo]

I use an [A] at the end of the category title/due date when it’s paid with an automatic payment. That way I know which budgeted items are scheduled, auto drafted, imported and linked.

[jojorosey]

TIP: For my credit card account names/labels, I include the last four digits of the card. When looking at receipts they don’t state the type of card. Having the last four digits visible in YNAB makes it a snap to know which card I used!

[claudiakaiser]

Yes, would love to see Round 2 of tips and tricks from YNAB users! Thank you for making this video.

[haygahr]

Besides scheduling to dos in YNAB….I also use it to track my menstrual cycle. Scheduled zero dollar transaction of “🔪” every four weeks. I realized I had a menstrual tracking app that I never look at because it only does one thing (count down 28 days). Since I look at my budget more often, it’s easy to track.

[Sunshine-ztmj]

I am 51 years old and just started using YNAB a month ago....this is by far the best budgeting software out there and it's actually....
dare I say My husband patiently listens to all my nerdy accounts of what I have learned, what new categories I made for us. LOL But honestly even though I thought we were good with our finances before this has been a game changer. I have not seen any other program that does what YNAB does. Love it!!

[kentodriscoll]

We have a number of “untouchable“ categories, like “dream vacation“, “Furnace replacement”, “Emergency cash” or the all important “unforeseen“ category. We have created a master category for them called “out of sight“. We keep this master category hidden (which automatically hides all the subcategories). Each month when we put a little bit in each category, we simply unhide the master category to fund the subcategories and then immediately behind it re-hide it.

[InfluentialFinance]

I set up text alerts for every time I spend money with my cards. At the end of the day, I just go through my texts and enter my transactions! That way I don’t have to enter them on the spot.

[amandarogers]

Here's a tip I use: I set up a category group for each savings account. Then I give a category to each thing I'm saving for in that savings account. For example, I may be putting money away in a savings account for both a vacation and a new car so each gets its own category in that group. I did this because, while I would remember to fund those categories, I would sometimes forget to move the money over from my checking account to my savings accounts. Now all I have to do is check the total available in my savings category groups and match that amount with what is in my savings accounts. If they don't match, I know I forget to move the money!

[ElChupacabra]

I hasn't really used memos before this video, but I've started using hashtags now which is super helpful! One thing I started doing in that spirit is adding the order number from e-commerce purchases to my memo line when I add the transaction. Especially with Amazon, it's super helpful for tracking purchases down!

[sarahz.]

Hey Hannah!
Thanks so much for creating such fun and helpful budgeting content. Whenever I share YNAB with my friends, I’ll usually send them one of your videos!! 🤗

I had some ideas for topics that me (and others) might find helpful:
1. car series? 🚗
- the ynab blog i’ve noticed has some great content for car ownership that would be wonderful to have someone explain logistically in ynab.
- buying/selling a car: logistics, costs, what to look for in a new car based on your situation
- what if you’re working hard towards a debt pay down or working towards FIRE? how would that affect someone who has an old clunky car that’s burning thru their true expense maintenance category?
2. FIRE movement in general? 🔥
- Jesse talks in some of the podcast episodes and investing series on explaining it and the different strategies (your side hustle video was great!)
3. meal planning/grocery savings 🛒
4. deep work 🏋🏻‍♀️
- i recently read this book based off of ynab’s recommendation and it would be cool to hear how that relates to budgeting. The rules of time management he describes relates almost perfectly with YNAB’s rules for money management.
5. the life changing magic of tidying up/minimalism 🧘🏻‍♀️ and how that may help someone simplify their life and budget.
6. should you make a new budget every year or keep the same one? you can get rid of those hidden categories instead of them just piling up, but by using the same budget year after year, you get a better idea of your net worth over time and can look at your trends in spending? this has been my first year using YNAB and i’m wondering what to do come january ❄️. Also, what about different seasons of life...starting a new budget when you get married or when a new baby arrives?
7. just a quick question in general - why can’t we reconcile on the mobile app?

thanks so much for taking the time to read these and i’m looking forward to all the other great videos you will make! I hope you have a lovely thanksgiving! 🦃🙏🏻😊

[MalloryWhitfield]

Love this! Your videos along with Nick True’s (Mapped Out Money) have been super helpful for me as I’ve gotten started with YNAB. I started about a month ago, and the real-life examples of how different people use YNAB for different lifestyles & budgeting needs has been really useful. I got even more excited about YNAB once I learned that you can have 2 separate budgets within the same YNAB account. I have a small business (just me, doing some freelance work, professional speaking & a few online income streams), so separating my business budget from my personal budget was when everything really started clicking for me. With so many people freelancing these days & running micro-businesses, maybe more videos on this topic would be helpful for others?

[reimstimes]

My husband and I both freelance for a living, so our income is very (very very very) irregular. In the Notes section of each month, I make a list of what checks/payments we're expecting for the next month, so I can keep track a little easier. Another great tip I learned from a video of a fellow ynab user is to make a category called "Money earned this month for next month." As the checks come in throughout the month, I add them to this category, then zero it out at the end of the month and it's there to be budgeted the following month. (For some reason, this has worked better for us than budgeting ahead.) Win!

[karickm]

I changed my budget main categories to the "casual" names of Fixed and Flex, moved the fixed to the bottom, and put the due dates in the titles. It made it easier and more intuitive to use. Great tips. Thanks. I also sorted my Flex categories by the amount I historically use in those categories so the ones I use the most are toward the top. I exported the Income and Expense report to Excel and did a quick sort of the Average column. Then used that to move things higher in the list that I used more. It really surprised me that I needed to put Kids Activities above the Personal Care(clothes, make up, hygiene, etc) AND Fuel/Tolls. As I've mentioned before, exporting the I&E report helps with forecasting for next months / year also.
AND, I think it's comical that you look around for others reactions ("does anyone remember what the Harlem shake was") when your probably recording these in your office at home by yourself. Caught ya! LOL

[bookworm]

I like this. I also had the immediate inspiration with fixed and flexible categories to not only stick the fixed ones at the bottom, but also add more emojis: a rock or mountain for the fixed ones, and a slinky spring or something to the flexible ones. Will do that tonight when I turn on my budget.
I'm listening to you in the background while I'm working...

[camikawinter]

This video is super helpful! Thanks for being awesome! Love the commentary!

[kw]

Truly enjoyed it. Learned new hacks and methods... Should do this format quarterly!