How I Set Up My YNAB Budget for 2026 Using Real Numbers

📑 Today's video: YNAB can show you when your targets exceed your income — but it doesn’t tell you what to fix. In this video, I walk through my full YNAB budget setup using real numbers, starting with a review of past spending and ending with realistic targets that show what you can actually afford.

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📺 What to Watch Next
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✌🏽 About Me
I'm a 30-something who lives in a HCOL area on ~$350K. And I like to budget intentionally and share real-life routines because the more we talk about money, the more we feel comfortable with our money.

📚 Chapters
00:00 – YNAB Doesn’t Tell You What You Can Afford
01:00 – The Three-Phase Budgeting Process
01:18 – Writing Everything Down First
01:48 – Why Looking Back Matters More Than Guessing
01:59 – Reviewing 2025 With Real Data
03:19 – Fixed Costs Reality Check
06:55 — Investments and What YNAB Doesn’t Capture
07:09 — Savings, Travel, and Where Things Tipped
08:39 — Why Guilt-Free Spending Felt Tight
09:39 — Designing 2026 Intentionally
13:14 — Making Guilt-Free Spending Livable Again
14:37 — What's Changing and What's Staying the Same
14:52 — Turning the Plan Into Targets
15:12 — Example Target Setup in YNAB
16:00 — Why My Debt Target Is Lower Than My Plan
16:36 — How to Read Target Feedback
16:47 — What to Expect in a Brand New Budget
16:57 — Final Thoughts on Affordability


🏷️ Tags budget with me, YNAB, payday routine, personal finance, financial independence, Coast FIRE, monthly budget, budgeting categories, fixed expenses, variable spending, savings goals, money management, budgeting tips, YNAB tutorial