YNAB: You Need A Budget

YNAB, or You Need a Budget, is a simple but powerful budgeting app that will help you understand where your money is going. Like EveryDollar, YNAB uses a zero base budgeting app, but here, the app calls it “give every dollar a job.” You’ll assign all the money you earn during the month to a specific category until you have nothing left that hasn’t been given a “job.”

With the YNAB app, you can create different categories to cover all your current monthly expenses as well as some occasional hidden expenses. For instance, if you have a yearly Disney+ subscription, the app will suggest you start saving money now so it’s easier to pay when the time comes.

The app also lets you set goals for how much money you want to save for a specific category and reminds you every month on the minimum you need to add to stay on track.

Extra features include the ability to sync your bank accounts so you don’t have to do the heavy work and the ability to see your current net worth and spending trends. There’s even a section with tons of videos and materials to help you improve your relationship with money.

Unfortunately, YNAB only offers a free trial, and you’ll have to pay to use it. With that said, the app is so good that it claims most users manage to save up to $6,000 in their first year, making it a pretty good investment. 

Or, if you’re a student, you can apply for a college discount, which will give you access to the app for free for a whole year.