I usually try to log into YNAB once a week and update all my numbers just to be sure I’m on track. But life got away from me and I went over two weeks. Logging in was definitely a scary proposition. I was pretty sure that my budget was fine, but I like being on track just a little bit better.
I did have some expenses this month that I hadn’t planned for, so there were a few issues, but so far, things seem to be okay. I realized this month that my computers have a tendency to die at the three year mark, which will hit for me next spring. I should start saving now. Do I think my current computer will die then? No. But it doesn’t hurt to start setting aside cash for a replacement when the time comes. I’m not as hard on computers as I used to be – all other computers were laptops used in college and grad school, and my law school laptop traveled to and from campus with me every day. That kind of use just wears on a computer. I regularly wore out the keys and had to get them replaced (thank you, Dell). But my current computer only gets sporadic use, mostly for internet surfing and movie watching. And of course, budget keeping. So it’s probably got a number of years left.
I’m trying to be better about really saving up for things long-term, rather than saying “Okay, I need this in three months, so I have to put away <insert large amount here> each month.” It’s not hard to put away $10 or $25 or even more some months, so I should just try to sock away the cash for when I do decide I need it. It will make the big purchases so much easier.
