Comments on: Why You Need a Budget YNAB Software Review

By: CoolHappyGuy

CoolHappyGuy — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:40:45 +0000

You need a budget because Quicken has less than optimal budgeting capabilities.

(Sorry for the dual post. I just realized that the rules said that I need to start my comment with “You Need a Budget because …”

By: Dave J

Dave J — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:38:07 +0000

You need a budget because you need a game plan for living within your means.

By: YNAB Pro

YNAB Pro — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:12:02 +0000

You need a budget because you can’t afford not to have one.

By: Sage

Sage — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:21:49 +0000

You need a budget to save for the future and pay for braces for 2 kids.

By: Renee

Renee — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:20:35 +0000

You need a budget because letting the big, bad credit card companies suck you dry is getting old.

By: Jersey

Jersey — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:22:50 +0000

You need a budget because the United States along with the rest of the world have entered a new economic era, one of which many alive today have never seen. In years past we had things good, very good and didn’t realize how good we had it let alone how important a budget is. The rapid advances we have made in technology can be compared to how important the basic skills of budgeting are in a sense to a Captain on a ship; today you set a few switches and the ship will sail itself, however should all your electronics go out unless you’re a Captain who can sail your ship by nothing but a star and the sun all the electronics in the world aren’t going to help you; never take the basics for granted. Here I am making a point for how important that basic’s are and not to rely completely on technology while competing for a piece of software and that leads me to the next most important the needed in life; a sense of humor

By: CoolHappyGuy

CoolHappyGuy — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:30:53 +0000

I need a budget because I am less than satisfied with Quicken’s budgeting features.

YNAB seems pretty straightforward in its budgeting approach. Furthermore, when you get to the point where you have followed the YNAB philosophy diligently, you have the money there waiting for you. It also has a built-in safety cushion that serves as an emergency fund and overdraft protection.

What I’m really desiring is a simple approach. I’m hoping to get that from YNAB.

By: jpratt

jpratt — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:34:19 +0000

Because….
We don’t plan to fail we fail to plan.

By: headknocker

headknocker — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 21:57:41 +0000

You need a budget because if you don’t tell your money where to go, you will be asking where it went. Secondly, living on a budget helps build discipline and without discipline you will never succeed financially

By: Trent Wallin

Trent Wallin — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 20:13:05 +0000

You need a budget for three profound reasons that Yogi Berra said best:
1. “A nickel aint worth a dime anymore.”
2. “Baseball [budgeting] is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical.”
3. “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

On Mr. Berra’s first point, it seems like my neighbors and friends around me are spending money on items that help to keep them up with the Jones’. Leasing a nice, brand new car, buying the maximum amount of home that they were approved for, and having more big toys that end up sitting in their garage. It’s as if we Americans have gotten so used to over-extending ourselves, we no longer know what it means to value the money we work so hard to earn….all the while watching good people we know losing their jobs and losing their incomes. It’s like we take money for granted. So many people think they know how much they are spending every month, but without a sound budget and monitoring mechanism, we are deceived.

On Mr. Berra’s second point, budgeting, like baseball, is 90% mental and the other half is physical. Budgeting allows me to take care of both the mental and physical components of my family’s finances. Mentally, I need to be aware of the inflows and outflows of my family’s finances if I want to build a comfortable and independent retirement. Physically, I need to practice sound spending and saving habits now while I am still young.

On Mr. Berra’s third point, my wife and I have been married for almost 4 years now. Issues over family finances and spending habits are at the top of the charts as causes of family tensions and divorce. My wife and I have decided that self-reliance not only builds a nest egg and rainy day savings fund, but also that it creates peace in our hearts and in our home. We came to a fork in the road early in our marriage — what direction were we going to head together in managing our finances? We determined that sacrifice now brings the greatest surety of peace, happiness, and comfort for us and our children. That is success. I love to use any tool that can help us in this journey.