ynab-first-budget-setup

YNAB First Budget Setup

What this does

Walks a brand-new user through structuring their very first budget: picking a category-group pattern that fits how they think, choosing the right level of detail to start with, and avoiding the most common beginner traps (too many categories, trying to run all Four Rules on day one).

When to use this skill

• "I just signed up for YNAB, where do I start?"
• "How should I set up categories?"
• "How many categories should I have?"
• "Should I track every subscription separately?"
• "I'm overwhelmed setting up my budget"

Should NOT trigger on: allocating money into an existing, mature category structure (use ynab-assign-money), or explaining the underlying philosophy first (use ynab-budgeting-foundations if the person doesn't yet buy into budgeting at all).

Workflow

Step 1: Pick a category-group pattern

Walk through YNAB's three beginner patterns and let the person choose whichever fits how they naturally think about money — there's no single correct answer:

• Mandatory & Optional — split every category into "must-pay" vs. "nice-to-have" groups.
• Themed Budget — group by life area (Home, Auto, Kids, Fun).
• Pin It to the Paycheck — group by which paycheck/pay period covers it.

Step 2: Set the right level of detail

Recommend starting around 15-25 categories, not more. Explain that new categories should "earn their way in" as real spending reveals a genuine gap — not be pre-built for every hypothetical expense. Over-detailed budgets are a top reason new users quit within the first month.

Step 3: Sequence the rules

Explicitly recommend NOT trying to apply all Four Rules simultaneously in month one. Start with Give Every Dollar a Job only; layer in True Expenses, Roll With the Punches, and Age of Money as the budget matures over the following months.

Step 4 (if MCP-connected): Build the chosen structure

If the ynab-mcp server is connected, offer to build it directly: Call MCP tool: ynab_list_categories — to see what already exists Call MCP tool: ynab_create_category_group and ynab_create_category — to build the chosen structure, one group at a time, with confirmation before each write