10 Tips for Using YNAB as an ADHD-er
- Chelsea Hester-Bradt
- Aug 6, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 9
Implementing new habits and overcoming resistance with ADHD
With ADHD, fun and ease are necessary ingredients for success. If something feels boring or has too many steps, forget it. And, let's be real, YNAB can feel complex as you're getting the hang of it.
The tips in this blog post help your brain get on board with using YNAB after the initial hyper-fixation and novelty wear off.
Who am I?
Hi! I'm Chelsea, a Certified YNAB Budget Coach and Intuitive Eating Counselor. Whether you're a YNAB user or stumbled upon YNAB via my IE coaching, welcome!
If you're new to YNAB, you can familiarize yourself with the YNAB Method and philosophy here 👇
Not only am I a YNAB fanatic and coach, but I also have ADHD, as do many of my clients.
If you're looking for 1:1 support, whether setting up your YNAB budget or discussing a budget you already have, check out my 1:1 coaching page. I offer flexible packages and standalone sessions to meet you where you're at and support you in whatever way works best for you!
10 Tips for Sticking with YNAB as an ADHD-er
Tip 1: Have YNAB launch automatically when you open your internet browser
The easiest path is the one with the least resistance. Let's decrease some of the resistance and barriers to you seeing your budget!
In Chrome settings, click "On startup" and select YNAB to open automatically whenever you open your browser.
Tip 2: Create a Bookmarks folder for all of your financial websites
Create a folder on your Bookmarks Bar for money-related sites (YNAB, banks, and spreadsheets you have, etc).
When you are ready to begin your YNAB time, right-click on the folder and select “open all.” This will open all of your financial websites at once, so you don’t have to remember each one and tediously type them in every time.
This reduces the number of steps and the amount of brain power needed (there is no need to remember all the websites every time).
Tip 3: Pair YNAB with an enjoyable activity
We want to train you to have positive associations with YNAB.
Try pairing your YNAB time with something enjoyable, such as your morning coffee, couch lounging with some pet cuddling, visiting a coffee shop, or listening to music.
The more appealing the whole experience sounds, the more likely you are to engage in it!
Tip 4: Set a timer
Decide how long you want to work on your budget (start with something manageable, like 10 minutes) and set a timer.
Sometimes, you'll get into a flow and want to continue when the timer runs out, and sometimes, you won’t. Either way is fine!
This gives you structure, intention, and a time boundary - all things that support an ADHD brain.
Tip 5: Make your categories fun
Use silly names, emojis, or create categories for random things that make you happy. Get creative and make your budget smile-worthy when you open it.
Tip 6: Use Auto-Assign
If manually assigning your dollars feels tedious and you want to expedite your YNAB routine, use the Auto-Assign feature to distribute money from "Ready to Assign" to your categories automatically.
Tip 7: Get accountability
Ever heard of body doubling? Having someone work alongside you (virtually or in-person) has been helpful for many ADHD-ers.
How that may look with YNAB:
Find a friend who uses YNAB and have a weekly YNAB date, during which you sit on the phone and reconcile your accounts together.
Use Focusmate, a free, virtual co-working space.
Join an ADHD community with scheduled body-doubling sessions. My friend Jak runs an amazing ADHD membership community.
Hire me for accountability! We can do weekly or monthly check-ins; I'm flexible and love finding ways to support you in your continued YNAB journey.
Tip 8: Put YNAB reminders in your calendar
Stop making your brain do all the remembering! Let's outsource the reminders to technology (or to pen and paper for those of us who still love our paper planners 🙋♀️).
You could:
Create a weekly event in your calendar for a YNAB date with yourself to reconcile your accounts and review your finances.
Put reminders on your to-do list to log your transactions daily so they don’t build up and become overwhelming.
Make sure your YNAB notifications are turned on so the app reminds you when you have new transactions to approve
A snapshot of my actual to-do list 👇
Tip 9: Reframe your budgeting tasks
To combat the ADHD instinct to avoid and procrastinate, reframe your thoughts to focus on the emotional or tangible results you want rather than focusing on how much effort is needed to get there.
For example, instead of “I have to log my transactions,” try “I want to have a clear picture of where I stand financially this week.”
Or instead of “I need to assign my paycheck,” try “I can’t wait to see how much money I have available in my Live Music category after getting paid this week.”
Tip 10: Apply other effective ADHD support tips to YNAB
Sometimes we don’t need to reinvent the wheel.
Think about another task or habit you've struggled with before. What helpful tools and techniques did you use? Apply wisdom that's helped you in the past to your current resistance to YNAB.
Maybe there's a certain room in the house where you're most productive, or a specific color in Google Calendar that makes your heart happy. Perhaps you only tackle hard tasks with a special coffee beverage. Whatever it is, give yourself the assistance and accommodations you need!
I hope these tips help you find ways to integrate YNAB into your life, whether you have ADHD or not.
It's all about finding what works for you and making the process as enjoyable as possible.
Using YNAB doesn't have to be a chore; it can be a fun and rewarding part of your routine.
If you have any questions or need more personalized support, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here to help you every step of the way on your budgeting journey.
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