Why I switched from YNAB to Monarch Money

I’m a big YNAB fan. After we signed up in 2017, the software + method categorically changed our family’s financial trajectory for the better. Before YNAB we struggled to stick to budgets; they were hard to track, and thus easy to break. YNAB stopped that cycle cold. The digital envelope approach helped us answer two …

In Search of Savings: Switching from AT&T to Ting

I’m always looking for ways to trim spending. Ten years ago we ditched cable for the savings, and we haven’t looked back. Our newest target: the cell phone bill. A few months back Renate suggested we switch from AT&T to Ting. Several friends had switched and recommended it as well. After some research and planning, I …

Cutting the Cord

After much deliberation, we got rid of cable. We are now the proud owners of a TV antenna that returns five channels. It felt liberating and absurd, twisting the antennae around and stepping back to assess the reception. But now it feels like we've struck a blow for simplicity. At the height of my media …

What We Don’t Need

Seemingly innocuous household expenses come under the crosshairs in the name of the down payment.