Living a spendful life

YNAB describes itself as a spendfulness app. It coined the term “spendfulness,” which it introduced in December 2024. Ordinarily, I bristle at invented words. But in this case, spendfulness resonated with me immediately. So I’m all in. (My testimonial is even included on this spendfulness page.)

Here’s YNAB’s definition:

Spendfulness is the alignment between how you spend your money and how you want to live your life. It’s the absence of second-guessing. It’s the confidence and satisfaction that comes with saying, “That was money well-spent”—and meaning it. No more guilt, no more shame. Just the satisfaction of knowing your money is supporting what matters most to you.

I know I want to live a spendful life. And thanks to YNAB I’m well on my way. What does that look like for my husband and me?

• We sold our house and now rent a spacious apartment in a luxury apartment building.
• We just bought an induction range to replace the electric range in the apartment.
• I spend what feels like a considerable amount of money every month on a personal trainer because my health and fitness is important to me and it’s a good way to get me to exercise and go out of my comfort zone.
• We generously fund our groceries and dining out categories because in our walkable neighborhood it’s so easy and enjoyable to pick up a few things at a time at the nearby (expensive) grocery stores or eat out in a neighborhood restaurant.

Thanks to YNAB, we don’t have credit-card debt. My husband is retired and I’m easing my way in that direction and we’re in the time of life where it feels okay to spend savings. That’s completely in alignment with how we want to live our lives.

For you, spendful may look very different. It may be about paying down debt. Or sending your kids to the best schools. Following your favorite band on tour. Taking the whole family on a Disney Cruise.

The important thing is to take the time to think about how you want to spend your money by getting in touch with what’s important to you. Allow that to be the lens through which you make your spending decisions. If you feel great when you make a purchase, knowing the money was well spent, you’re being spendful. If you feel guilt or shame when you spend, it might be time to adjust your spending habits. YNAB can help with that!