budgeting software

[DawnM]

Do you use anything?   I used to use YNAB way back when it first started and then once they went to yearly pay and changed it all I didn't like it anymore.

I haven't used anything in years.   But I want to get back to it.   

Extra bonus points if it is free AND easy.

 

[Carrie12345]

I’ve tried many, but I think my brain just works weird. I haven’t found anything that beats paper. 

[KrissiK]

I have been doing our budgeting on an Excel spreadsheet for our entire married life and that will be 20 years in June. I like it because I can set up the budget items exactly the way I want and tweak it at any time. I can personalize it to our family’s needs, income, expenses, etc. and make it as detailed as I want. And it is pretty detailed. I add worksheets each year for vacations, savings, holiday spending, etc.

Edited December 31, 2021 by KrissiK

[VickiMNE]

Well, I'm still using YNAB4 (or classic--the one before it switched to the subscription model) and it'ss working great.  YNAB recently upped its subscription price and  a lot of people found other alternatives.  I haven't used them but here's a list of some of the alternatives:  Non Ynab budget programs.  I think a lot of people went for Actual Budget....

[Bootsie]

I use Excel.  I find it easier to set up exactly how I would like it and do not have to learn how to use a new piece of software and a lot more flexible in that I can set it up exactly how I would like it.  Also, all of my banking and investing account information can be directly downloaded into Excel for manipulation.

[fraidycat]

I use YNAB, but am looking at other alternatives that I can recommend to other people that are cheaper than YNAB, but work similarly. I've come across Budget with Buckets and Actual Budget, but I have not taken them for a test drive yet.

You can also still use the downloaded version of YNAB. There are instructions online (does github sound right??) for how to get it to work on newer (64 bit??) computers.

Bad memory and poor tech skills combined do not make for a clear and concise recommendation, but I do remember seeing that YNAB4 can still be used on newer computers.

[theelfqueen]

We like Mint.

[matrips]

Sorry, I use ynab.  It had made such a huge difference.  I do hate the annual fee and find it expensive, but on the other hand, ynab is so easy to use and seems to save money in other respects.  It has alleviated much stress.  Curious to see other options though.

[QueenCat]

I use an Excel spreadsheet combined with Quicken. 

[Just Kate]

1 hour ago, matrips said:

Sorry, I use ynab.  It had made such a huge difference.  I do hate the annual fee and find it expensive, but on the other hand, ynab is so easy to use and seems to save money in other respects.  It has alleviated much stress.  Curious to see other options though.

Same! It has completely changed our finances! So I will keep using it, even with the fee increase. 

[73349]

I started the free trial of YNAB Dec. 1 and have decided to subscribe (monthly for 3 months and if I still like it, yearly). Everything I'd done in the past was just tracking spending, and that wasn't doing me enough good to be worth the effort. The last few years I did nothing (except wonder why my savings account balance was so low.) I kind of hate that it took me so long to find out about it and then I did right after a price increase, but it does seem to be worth the cost.

[cjzimmer1]

I use Quicken.  I started using it years ago.  It's not always the easiest to get setup but after testing just about every other product on the market I could find, it still gave me closest to what I needed for the lowest cost.