I like gift cards. It's complete permission to spend. If someone gives me cash it can be used for anything. It disappears into my budget. And cause it can be used for anything, it might get allocated to something boring.
Every Christmas my family plays games with gift cards as prizes. This past Christmas I asked us all to purchase gift cards for merchants that we all regularly spend money at for regular purchases like our local grocery stores, gas stations, Skip the Dishes and Amazon. That way we have more flexibility with our spending $ and we ensure they don't just end up sitting in the bottom of a junk drawer being forgotten or worse, causing us to spend more than what the gift card amount was for on something that we really didn't need.
We have a few big projects we'd like to knock out over here, and the coaching videos require a fair bit of coordination, but I think you should see more of those in the near future! 🙂 - Ben M 🎨
I hate gift cards. Just give me cash. I do not want to be locked into a supper at Applebee's when I'd rather eat at Chili's, or buying a book from B&N when I could get it from Amazon. Unfortunately, there are people in my life who prefer giving gift cards because "it's more personal." Um. It's not.
Pretty much every scientific study and survey on the correlation between happiness and certain types of gifts agrees with you, if that's any consolation. 🙃 - Ben M 🎨
I'm pretty sure this video doesn't really endorse gift cards per se. It just shows you that cash CAN be as freeing as gift cards, if you use the YNAB method (or any other zero based budgeting method, for that matter).
@@evanbrooks4403 I’ve been using YNAB for about 9months now. So I get what you mean. Personally I’ve always tried to answer why gift cards can be a better gift than just giving money. It feels like cash but worse, like pointed out in the video. But I think giving a gift card saves the “gifted” the mental stress of deciding what to do with the cash. And kind of forces them to use it for their pleasure.
I'm SO ready to cancel YNAB after 4+ years. Haven't been linked in a week. Said it was OK this morning... Nope. Hope they reimburse for it being unusable...😢
I’m here thanks to your Budget Nerds #97 appearance! Great video, Ben, really fun editing moments, too. :-)
Looking forward to more…cheers.
Same here
I like gift cards. It's complete permission to spend. If someone gives me cash it can be used for anything. It disappears into my budget. And cause it can be used for anything, it might get allocated to something boring.
Every Christmas my family plays games with gift cards as prizes.
This past Christmas I asked us all to purchase gift cards for merchants that we all regularly spend money at for regular purchases like our local grocery stores, gas stations, Skip the Dishes and Amazon. That way we have more flexibility with our spending $ and we ensure they don't just end up sitting in the bottom of a junk drawer being forgotten or worse, causing us to spend more than what the gift card amount was for on something that we really didn't need.
I really enjoy your YNAB coaching with (new) YNABers : discussing priorities, building a plan, setting up categories… Any more of these coming up ?
We have a few big projects we'd like to knock out over here, and the coaching videos require a fair bit of coordination, but I think you should see more of those in the near future! 🙂
- Ben M 🎨
When you spend $600 at the Lego store because you received a $25 gift card. 😂
I hate gift cards. Just give me cash. I do not want to be locked into a supper at Applebee's when I'd rather eat at Chili's, or buying a book from B&N when I could get it from Amazon. Unfortunately, there are people in my life who prefer giving gift cards because "it's more personal." Um. It's not.
Pretty much every scientific study and survey on the correlation between happiness and certain types of gifts agrees with you, if that's any consolation. 🙃
- Ben M 🎨
You are fortunate to have those people who care about you.
You are fortunate to have those people who care about you.
Another great video!! Thank you🎊
OK, but I had such a hard time focusing on the video with that overspent category screaming over there in the corner!😂
I wondered when this comment would appear. 😂
- Ben M 🎨
So much sense in this video! I feel better about giving gift cards as a gift
I'm pretty sure this video doesn't really endorse gift cards per se. It just shows you that cash CAN be as freeing as gift cards, if you use the YNAB method (or any other zero based budgeting method, for that matter).
@@evanbrooks4403 I’ve been using YNAB for about 9months now. So I get what you mean.
Personally I’ve always tried to answer why gift cards can be a better gift than just giving money. It feels like cash but worse, like pointed out in the video. But I think giving a gift card saves the “gifted” the mental stress of deciding what to do with the cash. And kind of forces them to use it for their pleasure.
But how do I track them in YNAB?
I'd track only the whole sum and take it off the appropriate category. Much like I track cash
@@1esk192Smart. A gift card cash account, so you remember you have them sitting in a drawer somewhere. I like it!
Like a Green dot prepaid visa? I get this idea. I like it. But what about the fees that eat away at the card
Wait what. Klarna has escaped Sweden and established itself on the other side of the pond?
Oh yeah, it's been here for a minute. Yaaaaay. 🙃
- Ben M 🎨
In my province gift cards aren't allowed to expire so I love them!
I'm SO ready to cancel YNAB after 4+ years. Haven't been linked in a week.
Said it was OK this morning...
Nope. Hope they reimburse for it being unusable...😢
YNAB is not the problem. It’s your bank and their lack of finicity. Look at Plaid first before you blame YNAB.