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Why budgets never worked for me — and how I fixed it so they did
For many years, I’ve been what I called a budget failure. I’d create budgets and then fail to stick with them. The problem? I was viewing the budget as THE PLAN instead of A PLAN.
Even though I knew that plans are simply a guide to get you started, I kept treating my budget as a rigid framework that should dictate my every financial move. But life happens. No plan ever goes exactly the way it’s imagined.
That’s where I had to shift my mindset.
A Budget is a Tool, Not a Trap
Instead of seeing my budget as something I had to obey, I started seeing it as something that guided me. It’s like how I treat the GPS in my car. I have the map on to point out traffic issues and other things that might be in the way of my planned route — but I can deviate from it when opportunities or needs come up.
And the tool that helped me get there? You Need a Budget (YNAB).
YNAB has helped me time and again to keep my financial plans realistic while also allowing me to dream big and prioritize what matters most to me. I love YNAB and think it’s a smart investment for anyone looking to improve their personal financial situation. But even if you don’t use YNAB, you can still benefit from thinking through YNAB’s…
