YNAB (You Need A Budget)
Great tool for implementing a zero-based budgeting system (also known as an “envelope system”), meaning every dollar of income is assigned to an expense category. Categories can (and should) include annual or longer-term expenses, so that you have cash on hand when foreseeable future expenses crop up. The system as a whole is great for giving you confidence in your spending choices, as well as helping you stay on track when you overspend. I find this type of budgeting ideal, though some may find it a little too demanding.
I personally still use an older, spreadsheet-based version of the YNAB system, mainly because it’s what I’m accustomed to. So I can’t vouch with certainty for their current software. But it does have a free trial!
If you already have a great budgeting system in place, you may not find this useful. But if your budgeting system doesn’t work so well, or if you don’t currently budget—you need a budget!
Hi! Long-time lurker, first-time… joiner?
I was inspired to finally register by this post being at the top of Main. Not sure yet how much I’ll actually post, but the removal of the passive barrier of, you know, not actually being registered is gone, so we’ll see.
Anyway. I’m a dude, live in the Bay Area, work in finance though I secretly think I’m actually a writer. I studied cog sci in college, and that angle is what I tend to find most interesting on Less Wrong.
I originally came across LW via HPMoR back in 2010. Since then, I’ve read the Sequences, been to a few meetups, and attended the June minicamp (which, P.S., was awesome).
I’m still struggling a bit with actually applying rationality tools in my life, but it’s great to have that toolbox ready and waiting. Sometimes… I hear it calling out to me. “Sean! This is an obvious place to apply Bayes! Seaaaaaaan!”