Show your money who's boss!

Hey there! ?

Our friend and YNAB teacher, Dave, ate a motorbike once.

Well, just part of one, really, and it was an accident. He’d decided to splurge on a nice dinner out and when he reviewed his spending categories the next day, he realized the extra “Dining Out” money would be coming from his “New Motorbike” fund. ?️

When faced with whether he would have rather had garlic and balsamic mussels or a new motorbike, he realized he would have chosen differently if he had considered that beforehand.

And that’s what a good money plan should do: guide your spending decisions so that your actions align with your priorities.

Now, let’s say Dave had an old friend in town and garlic and balsamic mussels was something they enjoyed bonding over. He wouldn’t necessarily have to decline the invitation—he’d just have to decide which mattered more to him right now: making the memory or buying the motorbike sooner. And it would be his decision to make.

You don’t need anyone to tell you what to do with your money; you need to decide what you want your money to do for you.

Creating and sticking to a plan can do more than simply boost your bank account—intentional spending puts you in control of your money. And when you feel like you’ve got a handle on your finances, you’re more focused, less stressed, and feel less guilt and shame around all of your financial decisions.

This empowers you to live the kind of peaceful and prosperous life that you seek—the kind of life that includes an extravagant dinner or the joy of saving up for a special purchase. That’s spendfulness!

You deserve to live a life you’ve designed for yourself. Our next question will help you do exactly that:

What goals, large or small, do I want to prioritize?

Creation is all about giving your goals a chance (with money). Ask yourself the age-old question of, “What do I want to be when I grow up?” over and over again and then give your dollars jobs that will make that possible. Who do you want to be and how can the money you have help you get there?

In YNAB, this looks like creating some aspirational categories and setting targets that will help keep you on track with turning those dreams into reality.

Next Steps

Remember how we said there’s no such thing as a normal month? Oh, we said a perfect month? Okay, forget perfect, there’s no such thing as a normal month either. Things change. All the time. And that’s okay, because you can change your mind about your money. That’s flexibility, not failure! More on that tomorrow.

But for now, figure out what you want next out of life. The Map Your Goals section of the workbook can guide you. Or take it to the next level and make a vision board—nothing like a good craft project. ?

Spendfully Yours,

The YNAB Team