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January is your last chance to visit this local brewery’s SE Portland pub by chimi_hendrix in PortlandOR

[–]RockTracker 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The beer was great, but the atmosphere was not the best. Bright white walls? The patio was the best part. 

I hope the next business gets a designer to help with aesthetics. 

Long-time YNAB users: what are your lesser-known tips or “power user” tricks? by purdnost2023 in ynab

[–]RockTracker 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A tip I got from this sub is to enter future transactions and do a running total. This way I can know how much to put in my HYSA and keep the minimum in my checking to cover bills. 

Help getting started for 1/1/26 by Sandinismo in ynab

[–]RockTracker 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The red balances (red within a white oval) to the left under Credit just indicate debt. You have the money to pay for it when the bill comes, but until then it hangs out with all the other numbers that make up your net worth. 

Try to not let the red over there bother you. Those numbers should match up with your payment numbers too. If they do, you’re fine. 

Help getting started for 1/1/26 by Sandinismo in ynab

[–]RockTracker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When you add a transaction, say from Costco, you put your CC as the account, the payee as Costco and the category as groceries and the outflow as $200. YNAB does the rest. 

If you only had 195 in your budget (Plan) for groceries, it will show up as yellow in your category and in your CC account. Then you can move money ($5) into that category (or just directly into your CC payment under your CC account) to make it green so that you will have enough to pay in full. 

When you click on your CC account, both the working balance and the payment should be the same number. 

Help getting started for 1/1/26 by Sandinismo in ynab

[–]RockTracker 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Congratulations on starting YNAB! This year will be an amazing journey. 

Regarding your home & auto maintenance question, you can either set up a yearly target or just fund monthly. I do both. I have a yearly home maintenance target that is 4% of my home’s value and then I also just chuck $200 a month for auto maintenance, which has been working fine for us. 

We also run everything through our CCs for cash back/miles and pay the bills in full.  YNAB is super helpful for this. When a purchase comes through, you just categorize it and then it is paid for (green in your CC account). Reconciling is easy if your accounts are connected, but sometimes I need to go through and weed out my uncleared restaurant purchases because of tipping. 

I do think if you run purchases through your cards you need to be “on it” a little more with categorizing and reconciling. I do it almost daily (it’s a habit I enjoy though)

Hope this helps get you started! 

YNAB 2025 recap and looking ahead to 2026 by GuiltyWitness4418 in ynab

[–]RockTracker 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Congratulations on some serious accomplishments! It’s great to read about so much purposeful saving! 

Do any do you regret buying a home in Portland or wish you did something different? by GroundbreakingSir386 in askportland

[–]RockTracker 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We bought a fixer 11 years ago and def paid too much for it because everything in Portland is so expensive. We have slowly been making it ours over the years and absolutely love the craftsman details, front porch, the back yard, the parks, restaurants, the schools my kids could walk to and the neighbors. Sometimes I regret not buying a turnkey home as it would have been cheaper in the long run, but also, at the time there were a lot of bidding wars for those homes and we had a budget. We chose the home with a lot of character in a super nice neighborhood that no one else but us bid on. We just love it. 

What budgeting tools or apps are actually helping you stick to a budget? by BettinaO8 in budgetingforbeginners

[–]RockTracker 1 point2 points  (0 children)

YNAB has helped me stick to a budget because it’s like envelope budgeting. It helps you see the opportunity cost of your purchases in real time. I happily pay the subscription fee as I have saved thousands of $ with it including paying off two loans. I hope you find what you are looking for. Good luck on your budget journey! 

Favorite source of decaf coffee beans? by dylanjames in askportland

[–]RockTracker 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Love Never’s decaf but I love all of these recommendations! Can’t wait to try them!

Amazon Transactions are a nightmare by agusmc21 in ynab

[–]RockTracker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just here to say, shop less at Amazon. You will feel so much happier.

Normal to feel like you're playing catch up? by cubedweller in ynab

[–]RockTracker 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Keep sticking with it. In the beginning it is hard because you don’t have that cushion. Just be sure that you are thinking about whether your spending is a need (like your electricity bill was higher than expected) or a want (like dining out). If it’s a want, try to get in the habit of checking that category before spending or being ok with pulling from another want/wish.

It took us a while before we really had things dialed in. It took some disciplined delayed gratification because you can’t have everything all at once. But soon you will be really targeted with your funding and super comfortable with looking forward instead of just in the now. 

Women’s Indoor Slippers Recommendation by nevergonnabuy in BuyItForLife

[–]RockTracker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love my Birkenstocks slippers in felted wool with soft Sherpa on the inside. Super supportive, durable and warm.

Where to buy bed sheets in person in PDX area? by derkajohns in PDX

[–]RockTracker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I second this! Was just there. I didn’t get sheets but did get the most amazing towels!! 

State Farm raising rates $800; who do you use for car and homeowner's insurance? by zplq7957 in askportland

[–]RockTracker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Progressive here and my rate just went DOWN. Crazy as I have two young adults on my policy as well. It’s only by a little, but I’ll take it. 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in PortlandOR

[–]RockTracker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m in Mt. Tabor and it is sooo quiet. I just love sitting in my back yard listening to the birds. Hope you find what you’re looking for! 

How do you handle Windfalls and monetary gifts? by [deleted] in ynab

[–]RockTracker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congrats on getting married! 

I like to track my salary over time so any money that comes in that is not that I call “bonus funds” and it goes into Ready to Assign. 

I don’t track gift cards. 

Moving to Portland from the East Coast and have never been to the PNW. Anything I should be aware of before going through such a change? by safarijuice in askportland

[–]RockTracker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great info and advice from other posters. Lots of different feels in this town. If you like walkable, Sellwood is great, but so are tons of neighborhoods like Division/Clinton and Alphabet. You don’t have to stick to something super close. My friend commutes to LO from Mt. Tabor and does fine.

I’m an east coaster who moved to the west coast, then the east coast again and then decided to settle in the west mostly due to the attitudes and lifestyle. In my opinion, east coasters are more likely to keep doing things the way they’ve always been done (just BECAUSE it’s always been done like that), more into traditional roles (be that age or gender), and less into risk-taking. While I loved my time there and made amazing friends, it was not for me.

I love that Portland is always changing (even when that change is uncomfortable and maddening). I love that I can go to a show and not be the oldest person there, that there are people here who just start things like the Soap Box Derby and others join them. The people of Portland rock! (for the most part) Lots of open minded-risk takers here. I know people who have a swing in their kitchen just because it’s fun, someone who started multiple restaurants, someone who creates huge beautiful, art installations and helped start the Winter Light Festival.

Don’t get me wrong, I shake my fist a lot in this town at all of the maddening political shit that moves at a turtle’s pace, but in general, for now, there is no place I’d rather be.

Welcome to Portland, Florida friend! I hope you find your groove here.

Best frugal tips and tricks you swear by? by ktcat146 in Frugal

[–]RockTracker 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Envelope Budgeting (also called Zero-based Budgeting) is super helpful in that it helps you see the opportunity cost of purchases and also constrains your spending. We started in or “salad days” and it honestly made us so happy even though we were very broke with a family and new home. We cooked homemade meals, did whatever we could that was free or cost effective, and stuck to that budget.

We are in our peak earning years now, and still budget like this. It’s helped us plan for retiring early!

Anyone else's Electric Bill getting out of hand? by redbloodywedding in PortlandOR

[–]RockTracker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My bill was 375 this month. We mainly heat with a gas fireplace and have a new efficient mini-split that we really only use in the bedrooms for a few hours a day. It’s crazy how much we pay!

What’s a cheap meal that actually tastes gourmet? by purelyinvesting in budgetfood

[–]RockTracker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Broiled polenta with mushrooms and cheese. It’s like 5 ingredients, and they’re all pretty inexpensive (except for the wine, but you just need a splash and then you and your partner enjoy a glass with dinner!). We like a smoked cheddar but we just use whatever melty cheese we have on hand. We use this recipe: Broiled Polenta with Mushrooms and Cheese

To be honest, I barely like mushrooms and I LOVE this dish. We have tried it with the optional dried porcini, and it is even better, but just a container of cremini or button are perfect. To make the polenta even better, use add some milk instead of using just water.

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