Jesse Mecham, founder of You Need A Budget, discusses YNAB's four key habits for money management, including giving money 'jobs', planning for future expenses, building flexibility, and aging money. These methods can aid those with ADHD by promoting intentionality and creating helpful friction in spending and saving.
You Need a Budget's four key habits for money management include giving money 'jobs', planning for future expenses, embracing flexibility, and aging money to create financial breathing room.
The software promotes intentionality in spending and saving, helping users make better financial decisions and resonating with many ADHD individuals.
Deep dives
Key Points about You Need a Budget (YNAB)
The podcast episode discusses You Need a Budget (YNAB), a budgeting software that has gained a cult following. Despite not being designed for people with ADHD, YNAB's four key habits for money management have resonated with many ADHD individuals. These habits include giving money jobs, planning for future expenses, embracing flexibility, and aging money to create financial breathing room. The software promotes intentionality in spending and saving, helping users make better financial decisions.
Habit Stacking and Daily Engagement
To stay engaged with budgeting, the podcast suggests habit stacking, incorporating budgeting into daily routines such as checking the app after brushing teeth. It is recommended to engage with the software daily until it becomes a natural part of one's routine. The podcast also emphasizes the value of short-term goals and intentional spending, experiencing a dopamine hit from funding short-term goals rather than impulsive purchases.
Overcoming Overwhelm and Setting Up YNAB
The initial setup of YNAB is not as overwhelming as it may seem. It can be completed in a matter of minutes, connecting bank accounts and outlining spending categories. The podcast advises breaking down the setup into time boxes, allocating about 20 minutes to get started. Additionally, resources such as YouTube videos and live workshops are available to assist with any confusion or overwhelm.
The Importance of Friction and Long-term Planning
Creating friction before purchases is highlighted as a strategy to promote thoughtful spending. The podcast suggests not saving credit card info in browsers and practicing the habit of 'finding the money first' in the YNAB app. Long-term planning is encouraged by aging money, allowing dollars to sit and creating breathing room for unexpected expenses. Planning for future needs and embracing flexibility are emphasized throughout the episode.
This week I’m talking with, Jesse Mecham, the founder of the hit budgeting software, You Need A Budget - or as it’s more commonly abbreviated YNAB - now I understand, that the term, “hit budgeting software” does come off as a little strange, but it is honestly something that has quite the cult following. And I know that the idea of budgeting can seem a bit overwhelming so don’t worry we get into that. Also while the software is called You Need A Budget, that isn’t quite the focus of what’s going on. And while this software wasn’t designed for people with ADHD, the underlying tenents have really resonated with a lot of ADHDers.
In our conversation today, Jesse and I discuss YNAB's four key habits for money management, including giving money "jobs", planning for future expenses, building flexibility, and aging money to create financial breathing room. We also talk specifically about how these methods can aid those with ADHD by promoting intentionality and creating helpful friction in spending and saving. Support me on Patreon Feel free to ask me a question on my Contact Page Find the full show note at HackingYourADHD.com/162This Episode's Top Tips
Give every dollar a "job" - Assign your money to different spending categories and priorities when budgeting.
Plan for irregular and future expenses - Don't just budget for fixed monthly bills. Save for things like car repairs. We need to be flexible with our budgeting to allow for when things come up.
Add friction before purchases - Don't save card info in browsers. Figure out where the money is going to be coming from before purchasing to make spending more thoughtful.
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