You Need a Budget: The Proven System for Breaking the Paycheck-to-Paycheck Cycle, Getting Out of Debt, and Living the Life You Want

Included here is a guide to stop living paycheck to paycheck. Society as a whole is taught to go out and make money, but not how to use money. This book contains tools to use to help. Budgeting is not restrictive. Along with the ides mentioned here, it is a way to focus on what we want to spend our money on.

Love this book and love the program. Definitely recommend if you want to get out of debt

I discovered YNAB late last year. We had tried other tools, envelopes, spreadsheets, Mint, Quicken, MS Money, etc.; none worked. This takes methodologies, like Dave Ramsey's and add to it the much-needed flexibility to make it actually work. No budgeting system works unless you stick to it. YNAB is such a system. In the book, Jesse does a great job of talking about the methodology behind the software, and not about the software itself. While I'm a happy user of the software, this methodology could be used on a spreadsheet if needed. Jesse really hits home on the "WHY" of budgeting, as well as the "HOW." He also conveys quite well the benefits of doing each, and it's not about having more money, it's about having more control, and less worry. Which actually leads to more money!! If you're worried when you swipe your debit card if you get stressed checking your account balance if you have more bills than money, this book is for you. Since using this methodology I have so little money stress it allows me to think more rationally about where my money goes, and where it needs to go. If you never used or intend to use this software, the book is still a worthy read.

I bought the hardback book quite a while ago, probably when it was original published, and later bought the kindle version with the intention of finally getting it read. My family does use the old YNAB 4 to manage our budget so I was already familiar with the 4 Rules and felt pretty comfortable with the process we have already going. I finally read the book in January 2020. It was quite the boost to me at the time. It helped me remember that the budget process is for my benefit, and being flexible is key to being able to happily manage my income. I feel the examples are realistic and apply to most people who work for a living. I feel that the book was upbeat and positive. I feel more hopeful and optimistic after reading it. I would recommend the book if you are looking for a guilt free system to manage your money based on your personal priorities. I would not recommend the book if you are looking for a set it and forget money management solution. Being successful for your priorities will require work and effort on your part, and this book can be part of that, but it is no magic pill.

The first month I used the advice given in this book I saved over $200! Easy to understand advice and well written. I’m glad I bought this book and will continue to follow my budget as outlined in it.

Very helpful

You don’t need a budget

Thank you thank you thank you thank you chinook is a wonderful companion and support I’m authoring a clear and more wonderful life for me and relationships

E' un libro che tutti dovremmo leggere, investendo tempo per migliorare le nostre finanze personali. Mi è piaciuto molto.

To many guides to life have a ton of steps you can never perfectly follow let alone remember. 4 rules that really are all one large rule makes it simple and easy to see what you need to do to achieve a desired Budget. I have used Ynab software for a while but never really kept to the rules. This book makes it clear the power behind Ynab's system and it clicks that it will work. Already applying it in my early stages i can see myself controlling my money, demanding money to work for me rather then it control me. Recommend this to anyone of any age.

Me encantó el enfoque hacía algo que muchas personas deberían de hacer; pero no hacen por mil razones, su presupuesto. El acercamiento del libro hacia el tema es muy práctico, y sobre todo, nos incentiva a llevar a cabo y mantener el buen hábito de presupuestar.

This should be compulsory reading in high school to teach our children the art of budgeting and leading a more rewarding life rather than living with the stress of a never ending cycle of debt.

I rarely sit down to write reviews anymore, but I have to for YNAB. I started budgeting with YNAB in 2013 after a lifetime of uncontrolled and irresponsible spending of money I either just got or didn't have, and I was experiencing considerable anxiety and fear around money. I had just moved out of my parents' house and had to find my own way in life financially, with all-new responsibilities. YNAB literally saved my financial life. I love it. I love that I can plan ahead. I love that I have order in my life. I love that I can play and feel around with the money I have. Since 2013 I have turned my net worth around, from -xx.xxx,- to +xx.xxx,-, and financially I am now almost totally stress-free. YNAB has allowed me not to "save for a rainy day" but to plan ahead, taking all the little and big irregular expenses into account and put them one stress-free budget. Can I live off the money I have today for the next 6 months without missing out on anything? Yes! Fridge quits working, laptop implodes - don't worry, replacements are within budget! Gas/Electricity for 2021 (!) are taken care of and in the budget now. Now that's freedom! The money I earn this August will probably be spent sometime next year. What a relief! I don't even look at my bank balance anymore - because that's not what's available to me now. Only YNABers know the freedom a bit of planning brings. Budgeting doesn't feel restrictive, it's the freedom to see what's ahead, even if I have to make an adjustment here or there. YNAB has turned out to be one of the very best decisions I have made in my adult life. The book lays out Jesse's philosophy quite nicely, and thank god it wasn't just an ad for the software, since you could do all of it in an Excel spreadsheet, but the software is quite simply amazing and fun, so do yourself a favour and get it. You won't regret it.