Using YNAB with Simple Bank
I switched to Simple Bank a month ago, which provides ways to allocate my balance to expenses and save for goals. Given the budgeting capabilities, etc., there's enough overlap where using both would be very confusing. I'm wondering if anyone uses Simple Bank and YNAB and how that's worked out.
-
I wouldn’t use that Simple Bank feature. YNAB’s categories already do exactly that.
-
I was in the same boat. I started Simple about a month ago and started YNAB this month. At first the simple expenses and goals were just what I was looking for. After I started YNAB I realized it made everything harder. I felt YNAB had more structure, so I deleted everything from Simple and keep it all together in checking. The only other goal I have is a protected goal for my emergency fund, I keep it there for the interest. I use it as a category in my budget and have a unlinked account to monitor it.
-
Wow! So awesome to read this. I have been grappling with this issue for the last month. I have been an avid user of Simple for the past few years but just started using YNAB, trying to continue to use the budgeting buckets in Simple and YNAB at the same time – but it is just way too confusing!
I am having trouble letting go of the Simple bucket and am a bit scared. Did y'all feel this? Was the switch better after all?
-
Stephanie Halovanic I've never used Simple but I think you're going to really like using YNAB's categories instead. There's no need for buckets since YNAB's categories take over those jobs. Now, one of my accounts, Ally, added buckets a little while back but I have no need for them as YNAB categories take care of all this. No need to try to separate the funds physically.
-
Stephanie Halovanic Also, read this over a few times until it sinks in. Once you discover the magic of YNAB, you'll never go back. 🙂
https://www.youneedabudget.com/the-relationship-between-your-budget-your-accounts-its-complicated/
-
-
Thank you so much! I have decided to go all in 🎉
-
In the same bucket. We have a pretty complex budget with 48 expenses/buckets in Simple and trying to compare to YNAB. We always try to kee our “Safe to Spend” in Simple at $1 (essentially zero budget). I get paid biweekly and each envelope/bucket fills 1/2 every other Friday so it’s ready for the next month. Doing that over a year gets a month ahead with 2 extra paychecks. I haven’t figured out in YNAB how to do biweekly mortgage. We don’t use credit cards much but to transfer money from a envelope/bucket to a credit card bucket when we swipe. I know there is more to learn about YNAB and trying to do that during the trial.
-
Stanny719 You can do all of that in YNAB without using any buckets. Categories replace your buckets. For your biweekly mortgage you can set up a recurring transaction that happens every other week. Credit card purchases get taken from the appropriate category, no transfers necessary on your part.
-
-
Stanny719 said:
In the same bucket.No pun intended? 😄
-
Thank you for the reply...I have scheduled about 20 monthly transactions; it is nice to see the grey and that they are covered...still don't see difference in category/buckets...both show how much money is available to spend and both can reallocate money from one to the other. I guess I am trying to figure out more functionality. One thing I do like in YNAB is to be able to create groups and separate out essential vs non-essential expenses or which categories you can reallocate from and which you can't.
