Review: You Need a Budget

You Need a Budget, by Jesse Mecham. 2017.

“YNAB” is a system (with an app) for managing your money. It’s built around four rules:

1. Give every dollar a job – Make your spending reflect your priorities.
2. Embrace your true expenses – Expect aperiodic expenses such as car repairs.
3. Roll with the punches – Change when you need to.
4. Age your money – Pay bills with last month’s wages, and extend it.

I can’t say I’ve adopted this system (nor can I say that about any single personal finance book), but I like Jesse’s perspectives, and I think there’s deep value in separating your income from your expenses (via rule 4 or a relative).