2021 Age Of Money Challenge
Who's glad 2020 is over? I know I am, and to start off the new year great I've continued a long tradition of the AoM challenge!
RULES----
- Choose a day every month that you will post your AOM to the google spreadsheet (link below).
- Be consistent on the day that you have chosen to post your AOM. (Your metrics will not help you or provide you with useful data if you are not consistent.)
- Post your AOM.
- Comment below that you have updated the spreadsheet.
- If you want, you may post a screenshot of your AOM. This will be fun and will help keep the thread alive. It's not required however.
- Try to keep the thread on topic.
Cheating is posting a number that is not your actual AOM, or changing your number because your AOM increased the following day.
We are following the the honor system.
You do not need to cheat, but if you do, everyone will ask how you've become so awesome with money and then you'll have to live with yourself. It only hurts you.
Question about the spreadsheet, or you find errors in the formula's, just let me know in the thread below.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1D-RYH1lXkMPFqWU5EFB1iJdUrd4SrdHjngB1YH0Ic9U/edit?usp=sharing
If you've stumbled upon this post and wondering what AoM is, I encourage you to visit this helpful article: https://docs.youneedabudget.com/article/199-aging-your-money. :)
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Brandon Thomas Thanks so much for creating this thread!
On this day last year, after having started YNAB in Dec 2019, my AOM was at 14. Today it is at 123! With some fluctuations both ways - I crushed my first 2020 goal of 30 AOM, then 60 AOM, then even 100 AOM.
Without debt holding me back this year and focusing more on savings, I can't wait to see what my AOM will be in December! (My placeholder goal for this year is 200.)
I grabbed line 4 on the spreadsheet. :)
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That is phenomenal, and you’re very welcome! I hope you achieve your goal this year!
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Is there a way I can see my older AoM?
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Sea Green Pilot
In the browser version of YNAB, when go back to a past month's budgets the AOM from the last day of that month stays at the top. (Which has given me a scare a few times when I thought my AOM had plummeted without realizing I was looking at an older month. 🤣)
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Peripherie Ah great thnx, could have known haha
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Sea Green Pilot You can also see historic AOM in the reports in the mobile app. It's a bit fiddly (unless you're using a tablet) but you can scroll through the chart to see your AOM on the last day of each month since you started using YNAB.
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Would it be better to ask everybody to use the last day of the month?
I suggest this for 2 reasons:
1. If we're interested in drawing comparisons, everybody has uniform data2. Let's say some people signup mid-year, I think YNAB only shows your AOM on the last day of the month when you go back, so those people don't have a choice! (which includes myself and anybody signing up today that needs to go back to get figures for Dec 2020 and Jan 2021)
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JG I wouldn't have thought it makes much difference for comparison purposes. AoM is measured by reference to when people receive income, which will be wildly all over the place for people in there.
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Using the last or the first day of the month should not matter much for comparison. Wouldn't it at most differ by 1 AOM?
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Signed up 🙂
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Question about "month started nYNAB". I did a fresh start a few months ago which will obviously have reset my AOM. Should I put the month I did the fresh start or when I originally started using YNAB?
I'm starting with a fairly high AOM because I have a lot in savings for future purchases (like a car & driving lessons, my first house deposit, etc.) and I don't have a high income so I don't spend that much, pushing up my AOM value. It still reflects me saving more than I spend though so I should hopefully see small increases each month.
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Slate Blue Falcon You can put the start date as you wish, I think the previous creator only mentioned it to gauge how long we've been addicted to YNAB, LOL! ;)
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I'm planning on adding some charts to the Metrics tab in the Google Sheet as well. One has already been added about Highest AOM and Average AOM. 😊
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Brandon Thomas Thank you! I have been wanting charts (I think I suggested that on that tab lol)
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VoltaicShock Was that you? :) I am going through the suggestions tab now to see what I can create. I have already added a column on the main page for distance to goal.
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Brandon Thomas Oh I had a lot of ideas, you sure you want me to list them out?
I will have to remember them though.
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VoltaicShock Sure! Just list them out on the Suggestion Tab and I'll see what I can do with my Google Sheets magic. 😉
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Brandon Thomas Will Do! Google sheets are awesome, so many things you can do. I like how you can even sync stocks with it
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Brandon Thomas Thank you! I have missed the AOM thread.
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Just filled in my row (id 10). Compared to the others already present, we have some work to do :)
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Jan You've only just started. I'm sure you'll see progress over the coming months. Good luck!
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Just achieved 31 days... ecstatic :-)
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Line 14 (first post)
Dec 2020: 48
Goal: 60
Jan 2021: 36
I gotta ways to go, but that's okay!
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I am bad at predicting the future, but I nevertheless set my goal to 280. I did get a 5% raise this year, which should assist my progress. 🙂
December 2020: 213
Goal: 280
January: 222
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January:
AOM 231/DOB 375
Feb:
AOM 241/DOB 374
Goal: 300 AOM
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Added myself to line 21. Not sure how to populate column U and onwards. Everyone else has something in there, but it has a formula in it? How does it populate?
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Wyvern Doh... I opened it first on iPad and some fields do not show on there!.
All sorted now!
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Wyvern Cool! Let me know if you have any other questions. 😊
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I like this challenge- new to me! Our AOM last year got to around 30 by about June (started in Jan at 0) and stayed there because of aggressive debt repayment of about 24,800 for the year. AOM end of year 32. Now to buildup AOM since debt all taken care of. AOM 59 as of Feb 4 and DOB 75. I would like to get it as high as possible, at least six months worth. First personal goal is 92, then 185. Am looking at significant income drop this year (partial retirement negotiations started at workplace).
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Lemon Pie Best of luck on your goals, and retirement! 😊
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Hi all! I grabbed line 24. I was brought up living paycheck to paycheck, usually with credit card float in-between, so AOM was a mind-boggling concept when I started using YNAB last year.
Goal is 31 days but I'll do my best to keep it going after that! Starting today, 04Feb21, at 18 days AOM (and 13 days of buffering, for those of you who use the toolkit).
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March 2021 update: Progress! AOM went from 18 to 24 and buffering went from 13 to 25 (this will go down a bit since I'm about to pay some bills). I might go a month or two without using credit, just to see my AOM without any artificial inflation, but these numbers are good to see.
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Line 25 with end of month update.
Finished at 18 for 2020 missing my goal of 35 unfortunately. Have kept my goal of 35 for this year.
Off to a good start in January with the end of month being 35! Will see if it can hold across the year.
Good luck to all involved :)
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spyral Reached and exceeded my goal of 35 days for 2021 finishing with an AoM of 55 days.
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I'm generally not bad with spreadsheets or computers BUT ...
I can't seem to fill in a line ... It keeps saying the file is secured.
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Start typing in the Username field. Let me know if that works.
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Brandon Thomas That worked, thanks! I feel a bit stupid now, hahahaha
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It’s all good! I’m glad you are able to join us on this 2021 journey! 😊
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Hey everyone! I'm joining a bit late. Line 27 on the spreadsheet.
My AOM has been artificially inflated by credit card float for a long time. This year I will be trying to pay off a lot of debt and get a month buffered ahead. I realize that AOM does not go up if you aggressively pay off debt, but tracking things is fun and I wanted to join in haha.
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You aren’t that late, I know January felt like an entire year! LOL. We’re glad to have you join us. 😊
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Brandon Thomas thanks for putting this together, love the idea! Just the push I need :)
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Can I still join? I tried YNAB in the past and never could get my money to age. I want to try again. I've started today. I am getting a paycheck tomorrow. So I'm guessing my current money age is -1 days. 😬
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Of course! We’re glad to have you!
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Line 14
Dec 2020: 48
Goal: 60
Feb 2021: 57
This number is will take a hit in March, since I just wrote one big, fat e-check to pay off my last credit card. Gotta have priorities, so AoM will be briefly sacrificed, but hopefully rebuilt in short order.
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Designated Victim I'm guessing it's going to be easier to age your money now that you don't have money going towards credit card debt anymore!
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I can not seem to make consistent headway this year with my AOM.
First of January was 118.
First of February will be 123.
First of March will be 118.
I am doing my best to save, save, save but obviously I am not living below my means. I received my tax return today and all of it went to savings. Hopefully that will help give my number a boost.
I still need to look for places to cut back in my day to day spending. (I'm looking at you DoorDash!)
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Peripherie You already got your tax refund? Damn, you're quick! I live in the Netherlands and here we can start filing our taxes on March 1, so: tomorrow. And I can't do it right away because we have an accountant who does it for us. Best thing I can do is drop off the paperwork fast and hope that he has time to process it fast. I'm expecting to see a refund, too, but it won't be until May, probably.
EDIT: I'm guessing the tax refund will help with the aging of your money. I'm curious to see your AoM on the first of April.
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Fabiooltje
Me too!
The US actually accepted returns late this year. I am usually ready as soon as I get the info from my job at the end of Jan! I should still have a small state refund coming. Not much at all but it will also go to savings.
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I received another raise for whatever reason - looks good so far! 😄
Goal: 280
January: 222
February: 250
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I'm number 35. I was an old YNAB 4 person, now coming back. I don't have a lot of income and I live simply. Since I'm retired, I want to see my money age. Thanks for creating this!
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This is cool. I'm #36.
Goal AOM: 120
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I have added a quick link in the header to link back to this forum post, great suggestion from someone!
