Gone are the days of puzzling over YNAB's target types!
For years, we've all asked ourselves. Which target type for what expense? How to adjust for more funds? How to tailor targets so it does what I expect it to do?
Now, YNAB simplifies targets. Whether you are online or mobile, just specify frequency, amount, due date, and action for the next interval. Easy, isn't it?
If you haven't seen it yet, anticipate it in your budget soon!
Gone are the days of puzzling over YNAB's target types! For years, they've left users scratching their heads. Which one for what expense? How to adjust for more funds? How to tailor targets? Now, YNAB simplifies targets. Just specify frequency, amount, timing, and action for the next interval. Easy, isn't it? If you haven't seen it yet, anticipate it in your budget soon!

Do you want to meet to go over your targets and learn the new way of doing things? Let's set up a time to chat!

Do you want to learn more about targets on your own? Check out YNAB's how-to!

While we're not typically big spenders, the no-spend month prompted us to rethink our purchases, emphasizing intentionality over impulse buys.

Date Nights
Initially, our date nights were more creative and elaborate, filled with planning, shopping (for a few fresh ingredients) and cooking together. I even made the table look a little more special than usual. However, as the month progressed, we found joy in simpler pleasures like homemade popcorn and ice cream. That counts as dinner, right?

Family Vacation
Despite the no-spend commitment, we still enjoyed our pre-planned family Christmas vacation. It had been planned and mostly paid for months earlier.
Tangent: We decided as a family a few years ago to buy less Christmas gifts and spend most of our Christmas budget on a family trip instead. Opting for quality time instead of quantity of gifts has been a nice change. Tangent over.
We opted for snacks and cold cereal from the grocery store rather than eating out every meal. We chose free activities in the area and the only souvenirs we brought home were some dirt, pictures and fun memories. 

Kids' Perspective
When I asked my kids about the no-spend month, they expressed that it didn't feel significantly different for them. It seems they've grown accustomed to adhering to our spending plan and hearing, "not right now."

Husband's Reflection
My husband, who was the instigator of this little experiment had this to say, “I found myself holding back on what would otherwise be impulsive buys. It made me think about what I really needed vs wanted.” He held off on buying some high-priced tools he really wanted, but knew it wasn't the priority (I'm sure they will make their way into his shop eventually).

Conclusion
Reflecting on our experience, a no-spend month proved valuable in realigning our spending with our values. It's a chance to assess priorities and ensure our financial decisions enhance our lives in meaningful ways. A lot of the stress people experience with regard to finances is due to the misalignment between our spending and our values. Are we really spending with intention on those things which will enhance and improve our lives; or are we spending on things that will give us a quick thrill, but don't add much value? We plan to try this again.

What are your thoughts? Would you consider embarking on a no-spend month with us the next time we give it a go?