Getting a Month Ahead with Your Money | Budgeting Tips

You've saved up an emergency fund. You've built your true expenses. You're feeling more financially prepared—yeehaw! But the ultimate security comes in building out your future expenses. Learn the importance of getting a month ahead in your finances, and some realistic quick tips to build your "month ahead" mindset and get started securing your future.

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Resources

How to Create a Budget Template in YNAB

Budgeting in Uncertain Times (Needs vs Wants Budget)

Ideas for Cutting Spending

Read: The Ultimate Getting Started Guide

Watch: Four Budgeting Rules for Less Money Stress

Join: Getting Started Free Live Workshop

Listen: Rule One Broken Down

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[stephaniekipf]

I am not sure if I am the only one rewatching Hannahs videos, not because I need the info but instead because I just can not get enough of Hannahs fun, relatable, and full of personality videos

[LustyArgonianMaiden]

"Imagine an alternate universe. It's May 1st and you now wear glasses" 😂♥️

[kimbrown]

I had a hard time getting a month ahead, and it took about a year. I get paid bi weekly and I used that extra paycheck 2x a year to get me over that hump!

[AndrewDubas]

I wish you would have shown a practical example in the app how to do this. Do you just click forward and fund the month early? I'm a little confused on how you do it in the app.

[jrwojick]

This combined with treating your Emergency Savings as a bill were definitely eye-opening. I have been one of those following the "put everything toward expenses and debt" and waiting to be "debt free" to start saving. I have a great battle plan going into 2023. Thanks!

[JustJoia]

I remember when I first started and actually succeeded in getting ahead... I freaked out thinking I forgot to pay a bill. 🥴 But nope, I was just ahead of the game. Can’t wait to get back to that.

[beckyguzman]

Another awesome & informative video. . New Ynaber here and I literally just made my $ age for THIRTY DAYS!! My old mindset wanted to creep back in and celebrate with a night out or buy a new purse, like I did 6 months ago to celebrate anything BUT nope, my new ynab mindset said a cup of iced coffee would do. THANK YOU YNAB!!

[kukurukuru]

Idk why I compulsively have to watch the latest YNAB video when under stress, but I'm just gonna call it a tool on my peace inducing toolbelt amidst this chaos

[xmochix]

I love this. I am a stay home mom who has 6 months buffer plus six figures in savings/investments (not retirement accounts). All I did was shave this and that. Cut cut cut cut. No side hustles. No passive income, Nothing. Just me being mom and husband a provider. Been using YNAB since YNAB 4. ;)

[leerv.]

Hannah, that hair-do is so cute! And "Live Off Last Month's Income" is my favorite rule, so thank you for featuring it!! <3

I took a look back at my budget, and apparently I did not get one month ahead until almost a year. Now I'm doing even better than that! This is an amazing, amazing feeling, and I'm a little awed by the pace of savings! You can do it, Accountability Buddy!

[jackwiley]

As the self-appointed President of the YNAB Hannah Fan Club, I feel sorry for the people who don't use YNAB, because her videos are so much fun! Stellar content aside, Hannah's candor in delivery, timing, and improvised add-ins, always leave me in stitches and a good mood for the rest of the day. I wish she was my daughter because I bet she would down for helping mow the yard or going for tacos on some day other than Tuesday.
And the whole concept of getting a month ahead in your money is spot on. Once you get a month up, you're going to want to stretch it to two and then three.

[dmitriiandreev]

You are so inspiring! I love your videos, you give me a lot of motivation. I have paid out my debt and started saving. Thank you!

[lrwalters]

This is important in YNAB, and understated. YNAB isn't just for getting ahead of living paycheck to paycheck but it is also great for putting money (even if it is only $10 or $20) toward the next month. That is how you get ahead.

[scruffthemagicdragon]

What, Budget Coach AND Life Coach? Pretty spiffy, Hannah!

[notAsheep]

I think a good strategy to acheive this could be to plan it for your "Golden Month." For those that don't know, the golden month is a month where you get 3 pay checks in stead of 2, if you're paid every 2 weeks. Depending on the month you might get a couple of those per year. For me July is one of those months because I get paid every tuesday and this July I'll be paid the 2nd, 16th, and 30th.

if your month to month expenses are consistent, theoretically the first 2 paychecks should cover it, as they do with all the other months, and the 3rd check is almost like free extra money. Free money you worked to earn..

[ElaineLoyd]

I used my tax refund to pay my bills and then had a no spend month. Now my age of money is 98 days and counting. I feel comfortable not having an emergency fund. Being 3 months ahead is my emergency fund.

[inkling]

I was hoping she would give more practical tips through YNAB, but nevertheless it was motivating and inspirational! I love this gal's sense of humor and relatability.

[janeknight]

This is a seriously advanced feature in the software. I have made a terrible mess of this in the past-I am assuming you are talking about allocating money to future months. Please can we have a tutorial on how this works in the software. What exactly is it I do when the following month rolls around?

[chimenelongwater]

Love your dry humor...absolutely charming and fun to listen to. Keep up the great work. On my 67th try at YNAB...this time looks like a charm!

[longroadset]

Once I started YNAB and had to LOOK at my expenses, it became easier to fund my future expenses. I'm not fully a month ahead (YET!) But soon!