086 - It's Beginning to Look Halfway Like Christmas
(Holiday spending target - current category balance) / six months remaining = your monthly contributions for the rest of 2013.

(Holiday spending target - current category balance) / six months remaining = your monthly contributions for the rest of 2013.
There are three secrets to budgeting successfully on even the wildest of variable incomes. Here they are.
If you just decide things are great, maybe a monthly budget is a bit too frequent…how long would you last before the lack of frequency/familiarity left you sinking back into your old ways?
YNAB's (very successful) headline on the homepage sends the message of "control," but most people say they don't like budgets because they feel controlled. Which is it?
How old is the last dollar you spent?
This is a quick riff on how you could (quite easily) handle accounts receivable in YNAB.
This should probably just be a replay of my interview with Leo from ZenHabits.net. The key to money (and probably everything else in life) is to be happy in the moment.
The pathway to wealth is paved with patience.
Your "Miscellaneous" category is a black box of spending. Is that spending a reflection of your values? Or are you being lazy? And should you care anyway? We discuss :)
This is the end of that debate.
Having the choice to create a taxable event (or avoid one) is extremely powerful when it comes to minimizing your life's single biggest expense.
It involved a company that made karaoke machines. I got lucky.
I take a few minutes to explain how we use YNAB with the kids. We have five kids, so there's proof that it scales.
Anyone can keep pace when the treadmill is level, you're not carrying any extra weight, and the speed is slow. But what happens when Big Events change that? What drove you to the point where you thought, "We need a budget!?"
What causes discontent with money? What influences how you spend your money, what you value, and whether you're truly happy?
I interview my favorite Behavior Designer of all time, BJ Fogg of the Standford Persuasive Technology Lab. BJ and I discuss key principles for creating lasting, positive behavior change in your life. You'll love this.
Savings without purpose is savings frittered away. Make sure you're saving with purpose!
An interview with my tax advisor, and the author of Tax Insight, Casey Murdock. He's a tax genius, and he saved me 20k in taxes a few years ago. Case closed!
I get to interview a fellow man-cave enthusiast and personal finance blogger who writes one of my favorite money blogs: BudgetsAreSexy.com. Of course I'd like it.
More about our car purchase from December. Now that the dust has settled, here's what's really freaking me out.
If you're getting the big goals taken care of, nothing else really matters.
I'm pleased to announce the launch of "YNAB Works!" A Home Study Guide+DVD Video package for schools, clients, kids of awesome parents, employees…basically anyone you care about :)
Instead of takling about how we budget, which is just how I teach, and nothing special. I wanted to discuss everything else financial, how and why I do the things I do, and let you then draw your own conclusion. I'm no expert on this, butit may give you some ideas.
Are you finances managed with the future in mind? Where YOU could sleep through anything?
I have two rules when it comes to buying a car. Don't buy new, and don't finance it. Broke both of those.
When you're in a job you don't like, there's friction, because you're not spending your time doing something you love. When your money's misbehaving, there's friction. Because your money isn't doing things you love.
My interview with Joe Mihalic, who paid off $90,000 of debt in 7 months, because he got intense, got focused, and made it happen. You can catch Joe's book on Amazon (for $2.99) called Destroy Student Debt - a Combat Guide to Freedom.
What will your holiday season look like 13 months from now? And why am I making you think about it?!
I'm throwing down here. Not really. Did a major, MAJOR closet cleaning, and it feels GREAT!
In this interview, I speak with Linda I (psuedonym), a Debtor's Anonymous participant. The program deserves a serious look if you, or someone you know, has a serious debt addiction.