[Rebecca]

My husband and I met and married and had our child our late 30s – so by that time we were pretty imbeded in our own finances and ways of spending/saving, but honestly we are opposite mentalities when it comes to money – he’s a spender, I’m a saver.

8 years into marriage and we’re trying to meet in the middle.

I grew up in the 80s, learned to balance a checkbook to manage my money.

As time things have moved to all online payments and banking, I know what I can and can’t afford to buy, but I do not keep a close grasp on my spending or use a budget, and I’m frugal but also not as frugal as I used to be, and I’d like to get back to some basics.

Does anyone have good tips for easy online budget mangement?

I’ve heard YNAB is good, but I find their platform cumbersome honestly.

I also find it really hard to set aside time to dedicate to working on finances, between working and raising our daughter.

Appreciate any tips!!!

[Johnson]

Where is your written budget
I like an actual one
You can use a spreadsheet
Look up Dave Ramsey
4 walls

Pay off debt
Save 3 to 6 months of income
Fund college

Save for retirement
Cut spending

What are you actual struggling with
How much to put where or what

[Pat]

I am old school so I don’t use an app or anything on line. I use the old fashion envelope system with a clear cut budget.

I allow xx dollars for food, xx dollars for spending running money, charity, insurance, even dry cleaning fund, utilities, Christmas saving, birthdays and etc.

I never spend over each amount. If I don’t use all the grocery allowance, I save it to when there is a good sale and buy extra.

It works for us and has for a number of years. Married. 58 yrs.

My husband was always a spender and I was the saver too.

I see him consider the cost and saving and doing much better so I guess he learned to listen.

lol

[Kirsten]

I like Rocket Money myself. I could never get used to YNAB even though lots of people love it.

[Erika]

I really like Every Dollar from Dave Ramsey. The free version is perfectly functional.

[Suzann]

I use Quicken with a YNAB philosophy. I budget to zero and have sinking funds for just about everything!

[April]

I am very “ old fashioned “ with my system I use a desktop calendar for when what is due and still use a check book register that I go online and verify balance with statements also have $ going into savings at a different bank right out of my check that the only way to get any out is to walk inside the bank definitely stops me from using

[Sheila]

We are similar -After 1 yr of him spending & overdrawing every mth I got my own bank account -38 yrs later -I’ve saved & invested -He stopped spending when he retired @60-Today we are very comfortable & actually have 1 joint account -He never touches it – life is a compromise -I’m so glad I took charge of house hold bills & savings as our retirement would have been very differrht-Use ur skills save & invest for tomorrow

[Wanda]

I have my bills on autopsy and adjust up and down each month for water and electric.

I make every effort to maintain an amount that has an extra 2 weeks pay in savings and about that in checking.

My back automatically notifies me if my balance drops before a certain level

[Marissa]

Copilot. It’s an app. Minimal yearly fee but it’s very easy, intuitive, and will break down your spending by category automatically for you (once you set the rules).

You’ll quickly see where your money is going, and can adjust from there.

All in I spend maybe a couple hours per month reviewing it, outside of my normal budgeting activities.

[Darla]

After 31 years, I still use a spreadsheet and I’ll never give that up because it’s so easy.

But, for 2025, I decided to finally buy Quicken.

It requires a learning curve for set up and some time to link your accounts, but if you have basic accounting knowledge it’s doable.

I watched YouTube videos first and then I finally ordered it.
Free and basic: Excel

Spendy, but full of detail: Quicken
I use a computer not my mobile device for Quicken.

[Author]

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