Budget Nerds

Explore the quirky side of budgeting as YNAB users share their funny habits. From swiping their cards multiple times at stores to amusingly rationing toilet paper, the anecdotes reveal the silly lengths people go to manage their finances. The upcoming YNAB FanFest 2025 adds a sense of community spirit, while personal tales highlight the blend of humor and challenges behind strict budgeting. Embrace the lighter side of financial management with entertaining stories that remind us all that budgeting doesn't have to be boring!

Join Ben and Ernie as they tackle a chaotic budget, guiding listeners through the messy world of financial management. They emphasize the importance of reconciling accounts before diving into spending plans. Discover tips for categorizing transactions, especially with credit cards, to avoid confusion. Learn practical steps for streamlining bank reconciliations and simplifying multiple accounts. Catch personal anecdotes and successes that spotlight the benefits of a clean slate in budgeting. It's a fun, interactive journey toward financial clarity!

Join the hosts as they dive into exciting new features of YNAB, including universal direct import capabilities. Discover strategies for embracing a fresh budgeting start and learn how to navigate financial partnerships effectively. The discussion highlights the importance of aligning financial goals with personal values and explores the intriguing concept of the 'age of money.' Engage with budgeting success stories from FanFest as they encourage viewers to rethink their financial habits. Get tips for intentional spending and proactive planning!

Join the excitement as Ben and Ernie prepare for their upcoming live YouTube event on October 30th! They discuss the thrill of interacting with their audience in real time, encouraging everyone to participate. Expect lively discussions, insightful tips, and a chance to ask burning questions. If you miss the live event, don’t worry—there will be a replay available for later viewing!

Veronica Brashier, who manages the corporate wellness program at YNAB, shares her journey from freelance wedding photographer to financial wellness advocate. She discusses the stress of variable income while raising a family and how discovering YNAB transformed her financial planning. Veronica offers insights on incorporating YNAB into employee benefits, alongside enticing swag for those who advocate for it at their workplaces. She emphasizes the importance of budgeting for financial security and balancing family life amidst seasonal income fluctuations.

Celebrate a milestone as the hosts reflect on their journey to 100 episodes! They discuss memorable moments, budgeting adaptability, and strategies like monthly grocery shopping versus frequent trips. Discover insights from their least popular episodes and the value of budgeting for college students. They also share the joys of live community engagement, emphasizing the importance of simplicity in personal finance and the benefits of interactive content. Here's to more budgeting wins and financial empowerment!

If you're standing up, you might want to take a seat, because something big has happened... Ben actually changed his budget! Over the last year Ben has had some major life changes that have resulted in more monthly cashflow and also bigger expenses, so it was time, at last, to overhaul his budget. In today's episode Ben discusses the circumstances that prompted the change, how he learned to actually work Rule 2 and embrace his true expenses, and how he is assigning the new monthly cashflow.     YNAB Debt Bootcamp https://www.ynab.com/debt-bootcamp   Share your YNAB wins with Ben and Ernie! budgetnerds@ynab.com   Follow Budget Nerds on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuIUGmbCDklkDCDm-cQqv2g

One of the interesting parts of working at YNAB is you get to observe human behavior related to personal finance. As Ben and Ernie have noticed over the years, YNAB'ers tend not only to reach their financial goals -- such as paying off debt or saving for a big purchase -- but also complete a number of other goals at the same time. There's something about the YNAB process that leads to knocking down goals like dominoes.   Ben brings up an old YNAB saying: "think long, act now." Following YNAB's Four Rules, in particular Rule Two, gets you in the habit of considering your future expenses and setting aside money now so that they are covered when the expense hits your bank account. And as Ernie points out, the unofficial "Fifth Rule" -- find the money first -- puts you in the habit of identifying the tradeoffs you are willing to make to spend money on a given thing. These habits aim to help you manage your money in a sustainable way, so that you can not only meet your financial goals but continue to maintain them without incurring new debt every time an unexpected expense comes up.   For those new to YNAB, don't be surprised if your initial money goals lead to more and greater things!   YNAB Debt Bootcamp https://www.ynab.com/debt-bootcamp   Share your YNAB wins with Ben and Ernie! budgetnerds@ynab.com   Follow Budget Nerds on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuIUGmbCDklkDCDm-cQqv2g

Ben Markley, host of YNAB's Sketchy Advice series, brings his unique flair for financial wisdom to the discussion. He explores the playful side of budgeting, advocating for guilt-free latte purchases and using YNAB as a quirky gift card system. Markley also proposes that budgeting can incentivize household chores, making responsibilities fun with assigned values. The conversation dives into the joy of tabletop gaming costs and the psychology of spending, emphasizing how creativity can transform money management from a chore into a delightful experience.

Ben and Ernie tackle a variety of intriguing budgeting questions! They discuss the quirky concept of the 'matchy matchy game' and why it complicates things unnecessarily. Strategies for teaching kids about budgeting are explored, along with adapting financial plans as children grow. The importance of simplifying budget categories is highlighted, alongside the financial realities of raising independent kids. They emphasize the need for flexibility in financial goals while ensuring a healthy balance between investments and savings.