Sure, not at all!
Well, in the past I would just spend without keeping in mind of any form of budgeting; all I was looking is that current/checking bank balance I have available to spend for the month. So, that single figure was the only flag/benchmark for all of my spendings on different needs/wants. I kept thinking, oh I have that much in the bank, I'll just keep going
With YNAB, it breaks that habit by making you budget every single dollar you receive in earnings/pay check, and dividing them into categories of what you need and want to spend on. So, every time you spend on something, say groceries, bills or clothing, it deducts from the amount allocated or budgeted for the month, and then YNAB tells you, oh you have this much left budgeted for groceries or clothing for the month.
Essential, for me at least, it reminds me to not overspend for each category. Having a phone with me all the time, YNAB app makes it really easy and fun to keep track.
I'm trying to reach the goal of using the current's month's budget just by living of the last month's savings. Seems most people achieve that in 4 months on average using YNAB. For me, I've reaching half way that point 3 months into using YNAB. I noticed having a mobile app, I'm more likely to stay within budget and also under budget to a point I have excess rolling over to the next month. Seeing how much you have left over at the end of each month, plants this sense of achievement and instills a greater habit to continue "saving" that way. I would think, oh, I didn't spend so much on groceries this month, soon in 3-4 months, I'll have enough left over in groceries budget to spend in my say 5th month without dipping into that month's paycheque.
In short, YNAB helped me in mini-goal saving habits.
