How to budget when manic

Sep 07, 2017 at 09:54 AM

So, I think I *finally* found something to help with my manic spending!

This is NOT a paid advertisement, but I've been using YNAB (You Need A Budget). It lets you log all your payments in a VERY organized fashion:

See:
http://theinspiredroom.net/wp-conten.../01/budget.png

^ That is not mine, but it's an example screenshot.

You basically say "I'm going to budget $100 every month JUST for clothing". So, if you go shopping and spend $55 on clothes, the program subtracts $55 from your $100 clothing budget. That leaves you with $45 to spend on clothing. If you go over your budget, then the green numbers on the right turn red. You can add as many credit cards as you want.

Neato!

bioChE · Sep 07, 2017 at 10:00 AM

YNAB has saved us financially. We've been using it for about a year and a half, and have paid off over $25,000 in debt and saved well over $20,000 that we would otherwise have spent frivolously. It has totally curbed my manic overspending. I'd highly recommend it.

Shazerac · Sep 07, 2017 at 10:06 AM

Cool! Sounds like a great idea

Sep 07, 2017 at 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bioChE

YNAB has saved us financially. We've been using it for about a year and a half, and have paid off over $25,000 in debt and saved well over $20,000 that we would otherwise have spent frivolously. It has totally curbed my manic overspending. I'd highly recommend it.

Congrats!

FYI to anyone who doesn't use it, there's a free trial with NO credit card required. You get to use it for 34 days at no charge. After that, it's $4.17 a month.

Wild Coyote · Sep 07, 2017 at 10:56 AM

Blue, thanks for sharing this info with us!

bioChE, thanks for sharing your experience.

Sounds like a winning option.

WC

Tucson · Sep 08, 2017 at 12:55 AM

Sounds like a good program. How can you budget when manic? Mania is when you are not in control. For me I make impulsive and wreckless decisions. Money is spent without forethough or concern for my financial wellbeing. Budgeting never enters the mind. Debts never enter the mind. Only when I fall off from my mania do I realize the damage that I have done. Isn't this true for many BPers?

Sep 08, 2017 at 03:24 AM

do you know if this works in the UK?

I have a feeling this might be something I need, as I struggle with budget at the best of times

knowing me though, I won't use it long and just go back to my old ways of overspending

Trippin2.0 · Sep 08, 2017 at 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tucson

Sounds like a good program. How can you budget when manic? Mania is when you are not in control. For me I make impulsive and wreckless decisions. Money is spent without forethough or concern for my financial wellbeing. Budgeting never enters the mind. Debts never enter the mind. Only when I fall off from my mania do I realize the damage that I have done. Isn't this true for many BPers?

This is why we plan ahead...
Some of us surrender all that is plastic to someone trusted, I've heard someone even suggest freezing your cards, its all about the preemptive strike in this case.

winter loneliness · Sep 08, 2017 at 03:42 AM

When I am stable, I make a list of housing repairs that I have been putting off. They may be time consuming or expensive.

When I am hypomanic, I start a project. Then if I turn manic, I have an avenue for spending.

Oh, and I keep most my money in savings and I can't access it online- and I am unable to access it with a debit card.

bioChE · Sep 08, 2017 at 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shattered sanity

do you know if this works in the UK?

I have a feeling this might be something I need, as I struggle with budget at the best of times

knowing me though, I won't use it long and just go back to my old ways of overspending

This does work in the U.K. You can change the currency to anything you like.

bioChE · Sep 09, 2017 at 07:06 PM

So Blue, are you sticking to the Four Rules and tracking your spending?

Sunflower123 · Sep 10, 2017 at 08:19 AM

Thanks for sharing. I've never had mania but think this will be very beneficial.

Parks · Sep 10, 2017 at 10:49 AM

Blue, I tip my hat to you if you can show some spending restraint when manic. I buy cars and go wild with credit cards. Back around 2003 my wife and I had to declare bankruptcy because I had run up about $130000 in credit card bills

. I hope the program helps you.

Sep 10, 2017 at 11:07 AM

What is so useful about this program? Isn't a elaborate Excel-sheet just as useful - and free?

bioChE · Sep 10, 2017 at 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Breadfish

What is so useful about this program? Isn't a elaborate Excel-sheet just as useful - and free?

Check out the website. They give away all their information, methodology, YouTube videos, and blogs for free. You could do the system with paper and pencil if you wanted. The software just makes it a million times easier and for us has made us stick with it. We're customers for life.

Parks · Sep 12, 2017 at 08:39 PM

I forgot to mention this spending pattern I've developed over the last year or so. For some reason I've become obsessed with watches and have spent between $10000-$15000 on watches over the last year. I just ordered another one for $800, which I definitely don't need. Credit cards seem to have some sort of spell over me to spend, spend, spend

bioChE · Sep 13, 2017 at 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parks

I forgot to mention this spending pattern I've developed over the last year or so. For some reason I've become obsessed with watches and have spent between $10000-$15000 on watches over the last year. I just ordered another one for $800, which I definitely don't need. Credit cards seem to have some sort of spell over me to spend, spend, spend

I spent my time with a watch obsession, but none of them were as inexpensive as $800.

I'm presently wearing a $2,600 Brietling.

Parks · Sep 13, 2017 at 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bioChE

I spent my time with a watch obsession, but none of them were as inexpensive as $800.

I'm presently wearing a $2,600 Brietling.

$2000 Tag Heuer Carrera here

bioChE · Sep 13, 2017 at 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parks

$2000 Tag Heuer Carrera here

Carrera, good choice. Hopefully not a manic spend!

My Brietling was a purchase made with part of my first bonus from one of my jobs. I'm going to pass it down to my firstborn son, probably when he graduates from college. It was purchased the year he was born.

BeyondtheRainbow · Sep 13, 2017 at 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jennifer 1967

Thanks for sharing. I've never had mania but think this will be very beneficial.

I'm confused. Aren't you bipolar? How have you not had mania? Am I misunderstanding?

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Wild Coyote Legendary Community Liaison Member Since Jun 2016 Location: USA Posts: 12,735 (SuperPoster!) 8 70.9k hugs given	Sep 07, 2017 at 10:56 AM #5 Blue, thanks for sharing this info with us! bioChE, thanks for sharing your experience. Sounds like a winning option. WC __________________ May we each fully claim the courage to live from our hearts, to allow Love, Faith and Hope to enLighten our paths.
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Anonymous32451 Guest Posts: n/a	Sep 08, 2017 at 03:24 AM #7 do you know if this works in the UK? I have a feeling this might be something I need, as I struggle with budget at the best of times knowing me though, I won't use it long and just go back to my old ways of overspending
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bioChE Magnate Member Since Aug 2016 Location: New York Posts: 2,075 8	Sep 09, 2017 at 07:06 PM #11 So Blue, are you sticking to the Four Rules and tracking your spending? __________________ Meds: Latuda, Lamictal XR, Vyvanse, Seroquel, Klonopin Supplements: Monster Energy replacement. Also DLPA, tyrosine, glutamine, and tryptophan
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Sunflower123 Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Jan 2015 Location: USA Posts: 26,557 (SuperPoster!) 9 95k hugs given	Sep 10, 2017 at 08:19 AM #12 Thanks for sharing. I've never had mania but think this will be very beneficial.
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Parks Member Member Since Jun 2007 Location: Salisbury, MD Posts: 59 17 34 hugs given	Sep 10, 2017 at 10:49 AM #13 Blue, I tip my hat to you if you can show some spending restraint when manic. I buy cars and go wild with credit cards. Back around 2003 my wife and I had to declare bankruptcy because I had run up about $130000 in credit card bills. I hope the program helps you. __________________ Bipolar I, mixed, with psychotic features.
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Anonymous40413 Guest Posts: n/a	Sep 10, 2017 at 11:07 AM #14 What is so useful about this program? Isn't a elaborate Excel-sheet just as useful - and free?
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