How to Create a Monthly Review Process Using YNAB
Reviewing your spending and savings each month can help you fine-tune your plan and align your goals. Here’s how to build a simple reflection habit that sticks.
The Power of Looking Back
If you’ve ever felt like your money disappears without warning, you’re not alone. Even the most well-intentioned spending plan can fall apart without regular check-ins.
At Master Budget Coaching, we’ve seen it countless times: Someone builds a beautiful plan in YNAB—but months later, they wonder why nothing’s changed.
The truth is, a spending plan isn’t just about assigning dollars. It’s about reviewing, adjusting, and learning—on a regular basis.
And the best cadence we’ve found? Once a month.
Why Monthly Reviews Matter
A monthly review is the difference between a plan that works in theory and one that actually transforms your finances.
Without reflection, it’s easy to:
- Miss overspending trends
- Forget annual expenses
- Lose motivation
- Ignore your goals
- Feel disconnected from your money
With a review habit in place, you:
- Make better spending decisions
- Adjust before things go off track
- Celebrate progress (even when it’s small)
- Keep your goals visible and actionable
In short, it brings your spending plan to life.
Step 1: Set a Ritual (And Keep It Simple)
The first step is to make your monthly review something you look forward to—not dread.
Some of our clients:
- Brew a favorite drink
- Light a candle
- Turn on calming music
- Book 30 minutes on a Sunday night
The goal is to create a predictable, low-pressure space to engage with your plan.
You don’t need a spreadsheet. You don’t need perfection. You just need a recurring date with your money.
Step 2: Open YNAB’s Reports Tab
YNAB’s built-in Reports feature is powerful—but underused. It’s your best friend for reflection.
Open the Spending Report for the past month. Look at these areas:
1. Spending by Category
Where did your money actually go? Does it match what you expected? Are there categories that were consistently over (or under) funded?
2. Largest Spending Areas
What categories are taking the biggest chunks of your budget? Do they reflect your values—or are they “autopilot” spending?
3. Income vs. Spending
Did you live within your means? If not, where did you dip into savings or move money from?
4. Trends
Are you spending more or less than usual on groceries, gas, subscriptions, etc.? Any habits shifting?
Even five minutes in this tab can spark huge insights.
Step 3: Review Category Balances
Head back to your main budget view. Ask yourself:
- Which categories had leftover funds?
→ Should I sweep them into savings or leave them there? - Which categories went over?
→ Was it a one-time surprise or a sign I need to increase the target? - Which goals are progressing well?
→ Celebrate these! Momentum matters.
This process builds the muscle of intentionality. You’re not judging your spending—you’re getting curious about it.
Step 4: Journal Quick Wins and Challenges
This step is optional—but powerful.
Take 5–10 minutes to jot down:
- One thing you did well
- One thing you want to change next month
- One insight about how you use money
Over time, these notes create a log of personal growth. You’ll see patterns. You’ll build self-trust. You’ll remember your progress.
Some clients keep a money journal in a Google Doc. Others leave comments right in their categories using YNAB’s Notes feature.
Whatever you choose, remember: Reflection is more powerful than restriction.
Step 5: Adjust Next Month’s Plan
Now that you’ve looked back—it’s time to look forward.
Click ahead to next month in YNAB and make updates:
- Increase targets for categories you consistently overspend in
- Reallocate dollars from stagnant categories to ones that need support
- Set new targets for upcoming events (birthdays, travel, school expenses)
- Reset any category goals that no longer serve you
This ensures your plan stays fresh, relevant, and aligned with your actual life.
Coaching Snapshot: Erin’s Monthly Money Reset
Erin, a single mom and public school teacher, used to avoid looking at her finances. Money stressed her out—and she felt like she was always behind.
When she started coaching with us, we introduced a 30-minute monthly check-in using YNAB.
At first, it felt awkward. But after three months, Erin told us:
“It’s like I finally understand what’s going on with my money. I don’t feel behind—I feel involved.”
She now:
- Tracks her grocery trends
- Adjusts savings goals proactively
- Celebrates every debt payment
- Looks forward to her “money date” with coffee and candles
Her income didn’t change. Her mindset did.
What If You Miss a Month?
Life happens. You get busy. You forget.
That’s okay.
Just pick it up again. Don’t go back and redo everything. Just start fresh—right where you are.
A missed review isn’t failure. It’s just a pause.
Pro Tips to Stay Consistent
- Add it to your calendar as a recurring event
- Pair it with something enjoyable (music, snacks, cozy space)
- Keep a checklist so you don’t forget steps
- Share wins with a partner or accountability buddy
- Use the same time each month (like the 1st Sunday, or last Friday)
The simpler and more enjoyable the process, the more likely you’ll stick with it.
Build the Habit. Reap the Rewards.
A monthly review is like a health checkup for your spending plan. It keeps small problems from turning into big ones. It helps you course-correct with grace. And most importantly, it reconnects you with your goals.
At Master Budget Coaching, we’ve seen monthly reviews transform:
- Overspenders into mindful planners
- Anxious clients into confident decision-makers
- Budgeting skeptics into YNAB superfans
You don’t need a finance degree. You don’t need hours every week. You just need 30 minutes a month—and the willingness to look.
About the Author
Trent Ladle is the founder of Master Budget Coaching and a YNAB Certified Coach with degrees in Business Management and an MBA. With nearly 40 years of budgeting experience, he helps clients build values-based spending plans—guided by the belief that when you master your spending, you master your life.
Ready to Build Your Monthly Review Habit?
Let us show you how a few intentional minutes each month can bring clarity, momentum, and joy to your money.