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Thursday, February 26, 2009

You Need A Budget!! (Plus a Give Away!)

How many of you use a financial software such as quicken or money? C'mon, raise your hands. Yes... there are many of you out there. I'm one of them as well!

For many years, I've quicken user and have considered myself some one that "budgets". I keep track of my money, I have all the different accounts set up to categorize my spending, I look at my reports... I budget, right?

WRONG!

A few weeks ago I came across this little beauty of a software. It's called YNAB, or You Need a Budget! Here is why I love this software and no longer use my quicken (gulp, that's right, you heard me, I no longer use quicken!).

Instead of reactive budgeting (pay all the bills, see what's left and spend it with out much of a plan), this is total PROACTIVE budgeting.

Look at the register... looks familiar, right? It basically works just like Quicken, but here is the beautiful part...
THE BUDGET SCREEN! I Love it! You can use the default categories, or change them to fit your needs (easily). Then you input how much you have available to spend in each category, until your top number (amount available for the month) says zero! As you enter in transactions to your register, it automatically updates your budget screen to let you know if you've gone over or under.

With YNAB Pro you can:
  • import transactions from your bank (the same way you did it with Quicken!)
  • schedule recurring transactions
  • easily split transactions
  • track all of your account balances in one easy to read interface
  • monitor your spending trends
  • compare spending from one category to another
  • never worry about being forced to "upgrade" as the old version retires (think: Quicken)... every time there is an upgrade, you get it for free! FOREVER!!!
This is the electronic way of "envelope budgeting"... it is easy to use, and easy to look at and you'll always know right where you stand!


Now for the fun part.


The good folks over at You Need A Budget, have agreed to giveaway one FREE download of YNAB Pro!!! This is a $49.95 program! AND YOU COULD HAVE IT FOR FREE!

There are SEVEN possible ways for you to enter this contest!! Leave a separate comment for each entry (example: Billy Bob Johnson-Follower).
  1. Leave a comment with your name.
  2. Blog about this giveaway, link to us, and leave the link to your blog in your comment.
  3. Become a follower.
  4. Subscribe to the feed.
  5. Put our button on your blog (find the code on the sidebar).
  6. Become a member of our Facebook group HERE.
  7. Go to YouNeedABudget.com and subscribe to their Free 10 day Budgeting course (it's awesome, and no, you won't get spammed).
The contest runs until Friday March 6th 11:59pm MST. The winner will be announced the morning of Monday the 9th (**be sure to check back). Good luck!!

Can't wait to see if you've won? Go ahead and purchase YNAB Pro - there is a 60 day money back guarantee on the product! And don't even get me started on their support... tutorials, forums and so on. YNAB just rocks!

And of course, here is a code to use at checkout to save an ADDITIONAL 10%!
FABULESS

Good luck to you!! (Don't forget to do a separate comment for each entry!)

**UPDATE!** Please make sure we have a way to contact you if your profile doesn't lead to your personal blog or have an email on it! If we can't contact our winner and we don't hear from the announced winner within 48 hours, we'll have to pick a new one!**


98 comments:

Marne said...

Looks like cool software Cathy! I am in!

But I must put in a postivie plug for Quicken. Quicken actually has a budeting program just like this one you mentioned, just formatted a little differently onscreen. I have used it for years, and it works the same way. You can budget monthly, yearly, quarterly, however you want. So look a little closer to your Quicken program...it's there! I still use my 2000 version of Quicken...you don't need to update it yearly.

Becky said...

I think this would be GREAT for the women that I assist. I do all of her accounting and she can NOT stick to her budget! Enter me in the drawing. I joined your facebook group too. :)

Nikki said...

I would love to win this software. One of my new years resolutions is to be better at budgeting and this would be so helpful! I entered all seven ways. I posted this on http://krazycouponlady.blogspot.com
and I put your button on my personal blog http://www.jaredandnikkichristopherson.blogspot.com
I joined your facebook group, subscribed to your feed, became a follower and signed up for the 10 day budgeting course. Can you tell I really want to win!! Pick me! Pick me!

Rachel said...

Thanks for the info on this software, Cathy, I've been meaning to use some real budgeting software ever since chatting with you about it months ago. Using my own little excel spreadsheet doesn't quite cut it. ;-) I joined the facebook group and subscribed to YNAB's email course.

Road to 26.2 said...

This is just what I have been looking for! I NEED this!

4 peas in a pod said...

Me me, Pick me!

4 peas in a pod said...

Forgot my blog theowings.blogspot.com.

MKB said...

How awesome is this! I would love it!

Bridget said...

I would love this program. With a new baby and a new house this is exactly what we need.

Bridget Stuart

4 peas in a pod said...

Follower now.

4 peas in a pod said...

subcriber

4 peas in a pod said...

Got a button theowings.blogspot.com

4 peas in a pod said...

Facebook group member.

4 peas in a pod said...

signed up for budgeting course.

Amber said...

Okay, so I am a budgeting MORON! I just don't. I don't even balance a checkbook (shame on me, seeing as how I was a bank manager for years!). So count me in. Oh and I am already subscribed, I am a follower, I joined your facebook page AND I signed up for the budgeting course thing.

Amber said...

Okay, Monica schooled me on the correct way to enter. So I'm a follower.

Amber said...

I've subscribed.

Amber said...

Joined the facebook page....

Amber said...

And signed up for the course thingy. Better Monica? Thanks!

Becca said...

I would LOVE to win, thanks!

~Becca

heather telford photography said...

I would love this hope i win!!

benandmonitanner said...

I totally need this software!!! I just discovered your blog and I'm hooked...you guys do a great job! Please pick me.

Nikki said...

I posted this on http://krazycouponlady.blogspot.com

Nikki said...

I put your button on my personal blog

Nikki said...

I joined your facebook group

Nikki said...

I subscribed to your feed

Nikki said...

I became a follower

Nikki said...

And I signed up for the 10 day budgeting course

Jen and Ty said...

I think something like this could help so much.

SarahAnne said...

This is sweet! I haven't ever really like Quicken, and I need something. You guys rock for finding this!

My name is SarahAnne. ;o)

SarahAnne said...

I subscribed! ;o)

SarahAnne said...

I am now a follower. See me following you? =D

SarahAnne said...

I've blogged about this. My blog is private, but Cathy knows me and she has access, I believe. Cathy, if you don't (pretty sure you're on my list) just let me know and I'll add you.

www.dsaffleckfamily.blogspot.com

SarahAnne said...

FB member - see, I told you I was following you.

SarahAnne said...

Your button's on my sidebar.

SarahAnne said...

Signed up for the 10-day course.

Phew! I'm gonna leave you guys alone now.

Shandy said...

just found your blog through facebook and have loved reading all of the awesome posts!
I just became a follower too :)

Jennifer said...

Hi! I am your next winner! LOL

My sister referred me to your site! LOVE IT! I have put your button on my blog and did the FB thing, too! My sister entered the contest, too, but I think I should win instead! ROFL

Thanks for having a great site

Jennifer

Melanie said...

Actually I am your next winner! haha! However you are quite awesome and I am amazed at all you are learning and sharing. Thanks for sharing!!! I am a follower and subscriber and encouraged my friends on FB to check you out. I bet you're having a great time! Keep up the good work!

Melanie said...

By the way, I saw news report on KTVB today about spending frugally (they called it the "F" word). I think you should call them and tell about your site!

Heather Wheeler said...

Wow great giveaway... I always tell my husband Dave Ramsey is my boyfriend, and Glenn Beck... I'd love to win!

Abuk said...

Sounds like a great program. Quicken has NOT been working for me so I'd love to try something new!

Amie
frugal4abusylife at gmail dot com

Becca said...

rig it so I win :) I did #1,2,3, and 5 so check out my blog at beccamcginnis.blogspot.com and thanks for the great site with all the help on finding deals!
-becca

Unknown said...

You've got quite the following. My co-worker told me about your coupon class. I just checked out your blog, and thought this looked like a great program. So I thought, why not - count me in.

brian.langford@gmail.com
New follower

Jen said...

Thought I already entered, but I guess I didn't! This would be a great thing to have, though! :)

Jen said...

Oh, and I joined your facebook group a few days ago!

The Robbs said...

I am a follower!

The Robbs said...

Check out my blog at tylerandtiffyrobb@blogspot.com.

The Robbs said...

I am having technical problems getting your button on my blog, but I also signed up for the ten day course.

Lott said...

Great giveaway and so pertinent to our economic situation!

Barry Newman said...

I need all the budgeting help I can get!

Barry Newman said...

now I am a follower of this cool blog. thanks.

Barry Newman said...

Now I am a subsciber. Thanks for the awesome giveaway.

Barry Newman said...

I enrolled in the 10 day program.

Barry Newman said...

I am a member of your facebook group.
pick me!

Sandy said...

1. Name:

Sandy

I could really use this since DH just lost his job...yikes, time to pinch the pennies!

lisa h. said...

would love to win!

lisa h. said...

i joined the facebook group!

lisa h. said...

i became a follower!

Sandy said...

2. Here's my blog:
http://inspirationscreations.blogspot.com/

Sandy said...

3. I'm a follower!

Sandy said...

4. I subscibed to the feed!

Sandy said...

5. Button on blog...check!
http://inspirationscreations.blogspot.com/

Sandy said...

6. I joined the facebook group.

Sandy said...

7. I also enrolled in the 10 day program! Thanks for the chance to win!

Angela said...

Love love love you gals' blog! Loving the looks of this new found softwear! I need this. I'm crossing my fingers! :)

Angela said...

Oh, and my blog address is: http://thecreativehomemaker.com

Angela said...

Already in the FabFrug FB group, thanks to Cathy!

Angela said...

Posted on my CH blog here... http://creativehomemakers.blogspot.com/2009/03/giveaway-on-fabulessly-frugal.html

Angela said...

Have your linky button, became a follower, and subscribed to the feed.

Angela said...

Signed up for the Budgeting course! Yippee, I'm entered!! Now I'll go pray that I'll win. :)

Angela said...

Just signed up DH for the course too. Is that extra brownies for me? hehe

Dana and the Boys said...

Here is number one: My name is Dana Tompkins...

Dana and the Boys said...

Number 2 - Here's the link to my post on the give away...

http://jdletom.blogspot.com/2009/03/fabylessly-frugal.html

Dana and the Boys said...

I became a follower!

Dana and the Boys said...

I am feeding...LOL!!

Dana and the Boys said...

Your button is on the left side...

www.jdletom.blogspot.com

Dana and the Boys said...

Joined the Facebook group!

Dana and the Boys said...

Signed up for my free 10 days!!!!

Amy said...

I need a better budget system. Pick me!

Jill said...

Love this idea of this program!! Count me in! Harpfam98.blogspot.com

Jill said...

I have subscribed now...

Jill said...

Now following...

Jill said...

And I got a button...

Jill said...

And I joined Facebook...

Jill said...

And I am on my way to blog about you!

Tasha Coltrin said...

I would love to win. With 2 kids how nice.

Brian & Heidi Haas said...

Pick me, pretty please with sugar on top!

Brian & Heidi Haas said...

Just joined FB group...

Jenni said...

I would love to win this program. This is just what we need! Jenni Hughes

Lori said...

Just subscribed via email.

Tiffani said...

This would be a big help to me!

Swanson Family said...

I would love this....it sounds perfect for our family!

Swanson Family said...

Okay, I just linked my blog back to you
jhswanson.blogspot.com

Swanson Family said...

I'm now a follower

The Marlatt's said...

Love money, would love to learn how to budget even more!!

Nancy said...

Please count me in! I could really use a budget that works:)

Wolff said...

Melinda Wolff, follower