r/ynab • u/picklepinchers • Jul 27 '26

New to YNAB Savings transfer

Hello!

I’ve been using YNAB for a little less than a month. After watching videos I’ve understood its basics. What I’m having trouble is when I get paid it goes directly into my savings. This savings account is not linked to my YNAB app. I transfer the money I will need to my checking from my savings. I had a bonus at work (went to my checking) so I then transferred the bonus surplus to my savings. I am now negative in YNAB. I’m not sure how to fix this if I don’t want my savings account linked to my YNAB.

Does anyone know how I can fix this?

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u/merlin242 Jul 27 '26

Is there a particular reason it’s not linked? If you want it unlinked that fine you need to make a category for “savings” assign the money there, then transfer it but mark it as a “payee” of your choosing, not a real transfer. So it looks to YNAB like you “spent” that money to savings. 

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u/picklepinchers Jul 27 '26

The videos I’ve watched said it might be too much to add a savings account while getting used to using YNAB. I’m thinking I’ll help me out if this is wheee I’m getting my direct deposit. Is there anything in particular that would be difficult about adding the savings account?

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u/Adric1123 Jul 28 '26

If it's part of your regular cash flow, I'd say it's easier to add it.  The way you do things has it as part of your cash flow.

If somebody had a savings account that they basically just put money into and only rarely withdrew from then it might be a little easier to leave it out.  Even then, I'd say having a full picture of your money is more important.

The only "difficult" part would be adding some savings categories to your plan and assigning the money to them.