Let's cut spending! And then... what exactly? The all too common advice that you need to "cut spending" implies that your level of consumption is simply too high. That may or may not be the case, but in Jesse's experience and the thousands upon thousands of people YNAB has helped to regain control over their money, "spending less" is rarely the problem. Most people don't have a spending too much problem, they have a spending on the wrong things problem. For that reason, you'll never hear Jesse give advice to just "cut spending." &nbsp; Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:  &nbsp; Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at  &nbsp; Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook:  Instagram:  Twitter:  Tik Tok:

Let's Cut Spending!

Your biggest single expense happens is one you probably don't think about much... unless you're American and it's April 15th. You may think it's housing, or maybe education, or raising kids, but all those costs are dwarfed by the elephant on your income statement: taxes. We are taxed in hundreds of ways, some obvious like income taxes and sales tax, others more insidious like fuel tax, air travel tax, liquor tax, etc, etc. Jesse points this out to demonstrate something important -- you can be desensitized to almost any expense, even the single biggest expense in your life! &nbsp; Beginning Balance Podcast with Jesse and Mark Butler Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beginning-balance/id1569423517 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7APubdzXN2eeeMdNpCLkiy?si=75eb73f1ac0a49ba &nbsp; Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:  &nbsp; Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at  &nbsp; Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook:  Instagram:  Twitter:  Tik Tok:

Your Biggest Single Expense

Jesse reviews the Four Rules and takes issue with those who say, "yeah must be nice to have extra money to make a plan with... everything I make is spoken for." It's true, there are some people who have a legitimate income problem. But this argument often becomes an excuse to not actually make plans for your money, to not try to follow the rules and start to get ahead on your expenses. After all, what's the alternative? &nbsp; Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:  &nbsp; Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at  &nbsp; Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook:  Instagram:  Twitter:  Tik Tok:

What's the Alternative?

It's not uncommon for people to remark to Jesse that they wished they would have found YNAB sooner. The four habits are such a powerful tool for bringing clarity to your money and joy to your spending. Today Jesse wants to remind you that regretting the past is no way to live! &nbsp; Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:  &nbsp; Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at  &nbsp; Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook:  Instagram:  Twitter:  Tik Tok:

It's Just No Way to Live

Jesse answers another round of questions from his inbox, including a number of suggestions for new books to read! &nbsp; &nbsp; Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:  &nbsp; Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at  &nbsp; Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook:  Instagram:  Twitter:  Tik Tok:

Ask Jesse: Heady Books and Final Settlement, Among Other Things

Jesse fields a question from the YNAB team about how he stays positive in light of rapidly increasing grocery prices. &nbsp; Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:  &nbsp; Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at  &nbsp; Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook:  Instagram:  Twitter:  Tik Tok:

Cheaper Milk and Eggs

We tend to think of spending as a problem that needs to be solved, however YNAB encourages spending as a thing to be enjoyed, as long as that spending is in accordance with priorities and people understand the tradeoffs they are making when they spend. In the world of personal finance we also tend to think about people who are natural spenders, but they are natural savers as well, and YNAB can help them too! Jesse responds to a comment from a YNAB team member who identifies as a natural saver, who has used YNAB to learn to love spending money as much as she does saving it. &nbsp; Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:  &nbsp; Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at  &nbsp; Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook:  Instagram:  Twitter:  Tik Tok:

Helping Savers Spend

According to Jesse, absolutely you can! In fact, YNAB enables you to be more spontaneous. Planning your spending with YNAB doesn't mean locking your dollars into rigid categories that cannot change. It means setting aside money ahead of time for the things you don't know you want yet. Many people who thrive on spontaneity unfortunately end up in financial trouble, because they're never sure whether they have the money to afford their spur of the moment purchases and experiences. Using YNAB, however, you can set up categories whose only purpose is to hold money for spontaneous expenses, so that when the time comes you can spend the money without worrying about the consequences later. It's already there, and it's meant to be spent! &nbsp; Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:  &nbsp; Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at  &nbsp; Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook:  Instagram:  Twitter:  Tik Tok:

Can You Plan to Be Spontaneous?

Those categories that you love to spend in, those categories that suck you right in. What if you could increase your spending in that category by 50%? Jesse challenges you that you can in fact do this, by honing in on the things you love, and the things you don't. Spend less on the things you don't love -- not because you are cutting! -- but so that you can spend more on the things you love. &nbsp; Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:  &nbsp; Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at  &nbsp; Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook:  Instagram:  Twitter:  Tik Tok:

Category Tractor Beam, Sucked Me Right In

As the saying goes, "stuff" happens. Life throws curveballs, sometimes several in a row, and YNAB'ers prepare for this financially by following the Four Rules:  Give every dollar a job Embrace your true expenses Roll with the punches Age your money  Today's episode is mostly about rule #3. When you roll with the punches, you reassign money you have saved up for other expenses in the future to cover the unexpected expense you are facing right now. After working the method for a while, you'll build up more and more money in your categories, and therefore have more money available to cover unexpeceted expenses when life decides to throw you a curveball. Think of your money like shock absorbers -- it doesn't take away all the pain or stress of unforeseen circumstances, but it does take away the money stress, which can be a blessing! &nbsp; Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:  &nbsp; Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at  &nbsp; Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook:  Instagram:  Twitter:  Tik Tok:

Shock Absorbers

A weekly dose of just the right medicine to help you get out of debt, save more money, and beat the paycheck to paycheck cycle.

Helping Savers Spend

You Need A Budget (YNAB)

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