Customer Rating: 
Summary: YNAB= savings, no overdrafts and real control
Comment: This is a great product. Truly. I've tried Quicken, MS Money, even my own tweaked Excel spreadsheet, but could never get them to do what I wanted which was to create a budget based on money I actually have to spend and then have that budget force me to stick to it. If I overspend in a catagory I have to move money around from other catagories to make it work or there is no avoiding the big red negative amounts staring you right in the face! You can't feign ignorance or pretend that you thought you could afford something you can't.
I did want to
stress that YNAB is not only for those living paycheck to paycheck. Although if you are, you need this software, you really do. Our family has more then enough money, but I kept overspending and having to ask my husband for "extra" money or transfer it in from savings and investment accounts every few weeks (which I realize is stupid, but if you don't have a problem saving or living within your means then why are you considering this product?). Sometimes I wouldn't time the transfers well and I'd end up with overdrafts. It was a result of not having a firm budget and being just generally unmindful of my spending.
YNAB helped me to create that firm budget and forced me to be organized with my money. Quicken and Money were both great at helping track expenses after I'd spent the money- helpful only if you need a pie chart showing you exactly how you are overspending on kids clothing or trips to Target. Totally useless after the fact. YNAB is great at allowing me to control my spending BEFORE I spend it on stuff I don't need and keeps me mindful of exactly where my money SHOULD be going so that I don't get sidetracked and spend it elsewhere on something new and sparkly. And not to worry if you really like them, YNAB has pie charts too!
Learning to use the software takes a few hours, it's true. You'll need to set aside a chunk of time to really use it right, but there are online tutorials which make it super easy and a helpful forum for other users to offer advice if you can't figure something out. It's way easier then Quicken with its bloated "features" you'll never use, at any rate. Since you are budgeting based on actual money at hand and not guessing about what you'll have to spend in a calendar month it just works way better then Money.
If you really want to get a handle on your finances, YNAB is the best. Hands down.
Customer Rating: Summary: Great piece of software
Comment: If you want a fully featured financial software package with all it's time consuming complications, stay with Quicken, it's a fine program.
If you want a simple and effective cash flow budgeting program, try YNAB, you have 60 days to see if it fits you need.
I like it.
