Hi all, Another newbie question here. I manage our family’s cellphone plan, which is $199.90/month for 5 lines (two in our household, 3 from other family members). The other family members reimburse me using Venmo each month.

So, I set up a category with the target amount of $199.90, due on the date that our cell phone bill is due, as per YNAB’s recommendations. At the beginning of the month, I assigned $199.90 to that category. Then, when our family members’ venmo payments came in, I categorized those as inflows to the cell phone account. Now, waiting for the bill, I see:

  • $199.90 in “assigned”
  • +$120 in “activity”
  • $319.90 in “available”

All of this makes sense to me. But, it seems like now I should be able to re-assign $120 to another category. If I try that, though, it suddenly shows the category as underfunded, despite the fact that I still have $199.90 available.

Am I misunderstanding how assigned / activity / available work? Why, after $120 of inflow, is YNAB still requiring me to keep $199.90 assigned?

  • hydration9806English
    1·
    1 year ago

    do you feel like you get a good view of your spending in these categories?

    In the To Be Reimbursed category, I do not, nor do I think I need it. In my mind, as long as I stay above zero and I can quickly see who still owes what, then that’s all the info I need!

    The biggest benefit I find is that your budget then reflects your actual expenditures, which makes your “Under budgeted” in a future month actually show a correct amount.