YNAB (You Need A Budget)

You need a budget. That’s both a rule and the name of this app. However, YNAB isn’t just a budgeting app; it’s also a platform designed to fundamentally change your relationship with money.

The app’s philosophy is that every dollar should have a job, meaning you actively assign income to different spending and saving categories. That way, you know exactly how much money you can spend in a month, and know how much money you need to complete your dream goals.

Another interesting thing about the app is that it lets you create targets for expenses that happen every once in a while. For instance, if you have to pay for a yearly Disney+ subscription, the app will spread the price across the whole year, so you can save smaller amounts of money instead of having to pay it all in one go.

The app also has different videos and articles to help you understand its other rules when it comes to budgeting and money. You’ll learn something new while still saving money.

Overall, YNAB encourages forward-looking financial planning rather than just tracking past transactions. You can track your debt and view how “aged” your money is (how long you’ve held onto it before spending). While YNAB requires a paid subscription and a bit more upfront effort, most users find that the amount of money they save far outweighs the monthly cost and learning curve.