The Jesse Mecham Show
Money shouldn't be this hard — and it isn't! YNAB founder Jesse Mecham is here to help you finally stop worrying about money and get good at spending it.
Quiet Money
When your health is good -- no aches and pains, no sniffles, no weariness -- you're just humming along. You don't think about it, but you feel great. Money can be like too. Just quietly humming along, feeling great no matter what comes along.
Order Jesse's new book, Never Worry About Money Again: www.neverworryaboutmoneyagain.com
Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:
Follow YNAB on social media:
Facebook: @ynabofficial
Instagram: @ynab.official
Twitter/X...
For Change
Perhaps the highest form of what money can do for you is for change, that is, to facillitate growth, explore new opportunities, and help transition through different phases of life. Whether it's leaving the workforce to focus on family, moving on from a job you didn't like to pursue a new role, or taking a sabbatical to pursue a big project or journey or goal, money can help you make big changes in life, and we think that is just amazing!
Order Jesse's new book, Never Worry About Money Again: www.neverworryaboutmoneyagain.com
...
For You
Believe it or not, money can also be... for you. To spend on you and your wants. Many people carry around the idea that their money only exists for others, and that they are somehow unworthy of spending on themselves. But part of freeing yourself from money worry is freeing yourself to spend on yourself, to show yourself that you are worthy of having something for yourself.
Order Jesse's new book, Never Worry About Money Again: www.neverworryaboutmoneyagain.com
Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:
askjesse@yna...
For Ease
Money can be for now, it can be for later, but it can also be for ease. What do you mean, ease? Simply put, when you get one month ahead on your spending -- you start living on last month's income instead of yesterday's income -- your life gets simpler. No more timing games trying to figure out when to pay which bill so that you have enough to last until the next paycheck, no more late fees when you forget to pay on time, no more overdrafts. Your bills go on autopay, you know they are covered because...
For Later
What does your money need to do? Last week, Jesse talked about the first answer to this question -- the money "for now," those non-negotiable expenses or goods that need to be paid for or bought in the immediate future. He urged you to consider what exactly what non-negotiable, and that the term encompasses fewer expenses that we think. Today, Jesse covers the second possible answer to the question -- money "for later," including bills and things that may not be non-negotiable but are nevertheless highly important, but also things which have some flexibility.
Order J...
For Now
Jesse continues discussing the new central question of the YNAB method -- what does your money need to do? -- which replaced the old commandment to give every dollar a job. There are only five ways to answer this question, but it is deceptively deep. One of those answers is "for now," that is, the money needs to be used now, for expenses that are imminent and non-negotiable. The mortgage, water and electricity, groceries (maybe)... but not necessarily all bills. Jesse warns that the "for now" category of answers is easy to get lazy with, and that simply deciding...
What Is Enough?
Jesse ponders the question -- what is enough? What if you set the bar at physical subsistance, enough food, shelter, and clothing to be secure? If that is enough, then everything you have beyond it is extra. When you set the bar there, then everything you spend on extra takes on more meaning -- it's not stuff you have to buy, it's stuff you get to buy, and therefore is more expressive of yourself.
What does your money need to do... once you have enough?
Order Jesse's new book, Nev...
Slow Down
In keeping with the theme of last week's episode and reducing your information intake, today Jesse encourages reducing your to-do lists as well. Referencing Oliver Burkeman's Four Thousand Weeks, he points out that waiting to relax and engage in leisure until after the to-do list is finished is a futile exercise -- the to-do list will never be finished, the sense of urgency to add more and do more will never relent... until you give yourself the grace to have a "human-sized" to-do list. Then relax, and slow down. In doing so, things will become clear to you in...
Information Overload
YNAB is all about creating clarity with your money, and that central question -- what does it need to do? -- and therefore, clarity in your life. Clarity is very difficut, if not impossible, to achieve when you are overloaded and overwhelmed with inputs. Today Jesse challenges you to unhook yourself from the matrix, turn off the feeds, leave social media, and drastically reduce your diet of information. Not just for a week, try it for a year. Maybe two years.
When you have fewer inputs into your thought process, you have more time to c...
The Most Important Thing Is Right In Front of You
Jesse reflects on the technological and cultural sea change underway as AI permeates everyday life. After publishing his new book, Never Worry About Money Again, Jesse scheduled the release of the audiobook version -- which he recorded himself in a studio in Salt Lake City -- only to find that someone had already released an audiobook with an AI generated voice clone. There are many such cases nowadays, leading Jesse to wonder -- how do you know whether anything is authentic anymore?
Authenticity seems to be becoming a more and more valuable quality in an A...
Ask Jesse: Ditching Credit Cards, Leasing Teslas, What Jesse Eats for Breakfast
In part 3 of the latest installment of Ask Jesse, Jesse reflects on his 2023 experiment of ditching his credit card and spending only with a debit card -- which he stills does today! He also answers a question about what he eats for breakfast, and shares how his experience leasing a Tesla (which he now owns) led to him to realize that his insistence on driving a 2002 Honda Civic was really just pride masquerading as frugality.
Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:
Pre-order Jesse's ne...
Ask Jesse: Getting Your Partner On Board with YNAB, Kids Savings Accounts, and YNAB'ing with Kids
In part 2 of the latest installment of Ask Jesse, Jesse offers some advice about how to work with a spouse who is reluctant or disinterested in YNAB. He also discusses savings accounts for kids, and how the Mecham family uses YNAB with the kids, at each stage of age and maturity.
Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:
Pre-order Jesse's new book! www.neverworryaboutmoneyagain.com
Follow YNAB on social media:
Facebook: @ynabofficial
Instagram: @ynab.official
T...
Ask Jesse: Pre-Tax vs Roth IRA's, Giving Dollars Jobs in Retirement, Saving for Multiple Goals at Once
Jesse's answering questions from his inbox, including questions about which retirement accounts to contribute to, how to save money in retirement when you don't have an income, and how a young person can save for multiple goals at the same time.
Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:
Pre-order Jesse's new book! www.neverworryaboutmoneyagain.com
Follow YNAB on social media:
Facebook: @ynabofficial
Instagram: @ynab.official
Twitter/X: @ynab
Tik Tok: @ynab...
Never Worry About Money Again (An Excerpt)
Jesse reads a short excerpt from his new book, Never Worry About Money Again. How does it feel to not worry about money day to day? It's not the end of all worry, but the freedom from money worry gives you the space to think about and work through the rest of your life. As Jesse says, the way you spend isn't just a parallel to the rest of your life, it is your life.
Pre-order Jesse's new book! www.neverworryaboutmoneyagain.com
Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:
...Signs You Need to Work on Your Money Skills
Pre-order Jesse's new book! www.neverworryaboutmoneyagain.com
Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:
Follow YNAB on social media:
Facebook: @ynabofficial
Instagram: @ynab.official
Twitter/X: @ynab
Tik Tok: @ynabofficial
I Just Wanted a Donut
Jesse shares a story about how one little donut that he passed by every day on his way to class as a struggling college student inspired him to develop a method for managing money that transformed his life, and millions of others by creating YNAB.
Pre-order Jesse's new book now! www.neverworryaboutmoneyagain.com
Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:
Follow YNAB on social media:
Facebook: @ynabofficial
Instagram: @ynab.official
Twitter/X: @ynab...
Sticking It to the Bankers
Americans have done it again, setting a record $1.25 trillion in credit card debt as of Q1 2026. There was a time in not too distant history, however, when credit card debt went down, and bankers were afraid, at least for a little bit.
Getting good at money doesn't have to be hard, and money doesn't have to be a constant source of stress and anxiety. You just have to answer one simple question.
Pre-order Jesse's new book now! www.neverworryaboutmoneyagain.com
Got a question for Jesse? Send him an...
Getting Good at Money Is for Both of You
For those in relationships, getting good at money is not just a gift to yourself, it's a gift to you and your partner. Getting good at money means spending well, and spending well for a couple means putting more of yourselves out into the world via your dollars. Spending well leads to alignment, both of you on the same page regarding what you want your money to do for you and what you want your future to look like.
Getting good at money doesn't have to be hard, and money doesn't have to be a c...
From Good to Great at Money: Becoming a New You
Over the last several weeks Jesse has laid out some of the hallmarks of going from being bad at money (which is, frankly, how most of us start out) to good at money, including the benefits of being good at money -- less stress and anxiety, enjoying life more, engaging with life more. All these wins compound over time, and eventually you can become great with money, which means you can start bending the world to your will like Neo in the matrix. Ok, perhaps that's a little embellished, but you can shape your life and the world around y...
Jesse Has a New Book! Never Worry About Money Again
That's right, Jesse has a new book out and it's available for pre-order now. After twenty years of running YNAB and a decade plus of podcasts, Fan Fests, speaking engagements, and more, Jesse has distilled his thinking about money into his best work: Never Worry About Money Again.
Getting good at money doesn't have to be hard, and money doesn't have to be a constant source of stress and anxiety. You just have to answer one simple question.
Preorder your copy now! www.neverworryaboutmoneyagain.com
Bad to Good... It's More You
When you're no longer stressed about money, you begin to enjoy the things you like guilt-free. Whether it's a treat or a tool or an experience you've always wanted, getting good at money frees you up to pursue happiness in life and express more of yourself in the world. In short, it's makes you more... you!
How do you get good with money? YNAB is a great place to start! Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at ynab.com/jesse
Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on You...
Going From Bad to Good with Bills
How do you get good with money? YNAB is a great place to start! Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at ynab.com/jesse
Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow
Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:
Follow YNAB on social media:
Facebook: @ynabofficial
Instagram: @ynab.official
Twitter/X: @ynab
Tik Tok: @ynabofficial
Going from Bad to Good with Money
When you're bad at money, it only brings you worry. Get good at it, however, and it's empowering. Like Thanos' gauntlet.
How do you get good with money? YNAB is a great place to start! Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at ynab.com/jesse
Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow
Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:
Follow YNAB on social media:
Face Reality, Get Good with Money
Reality can be a scary thing. When we're bad with money (and most of us start that way), money feels, well... we'd rather just not look. Maybe if we don't look, that thing we're worrying about -- not having enough for looming bills, going into debt -- well maybe it will just go away. But we don't have to live in fear. Getting good with money means that you can face reality, and not only face it but embrace it. Make decisions with clear vision, and understand exactly what you're money is doing for you, where you want to...
Writing A Letter from Your Future Self
Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow
Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:
Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at: www.youneedabudget.com
Follow YNAB on social media:
Facebook: @ynabofficial
Instagram: @ynab.official
Twitter/X: @ynab
Tik Tok: @ynabofficial
Writing a Letter to Your Past Self
Jesse offers a thought experiment (or a real experiment if you choose to actually do it, which you should!): write a letter to your past self -- you get to decide how long ago -- teaching him or her about money. Tell them about the things you've learned, some of the mistakes you've made, and what kinds of things they have to look forward to as they learn to get good with money. Jesse actually did write a letter to his past self, and he shares it on the podcast.
Watch The Jesse Mecham Show o...
The Moment You Realize You're Good With Money
Jesse recalls his experience as a young missionary in Germany struggling to learn the language. Every day he would take notes of words or phrases he didn't know, and every evening he would study those words. Then one day, he had a conversation with a man in Stuttgart, and he answered completely in German, without thinking or translating. It just clicked.
Money is a skill, like language, and it can just click too. But often that comes after many days and weeks and months of following the plan, giving every dollar a job, and answering t...
The Unfair Advantage of Being Good with Money
At YNAB we often talk about how getting good with money can help you reduce stress, improve your confidence, improve your relationships, and generally bring you a sense of peace and security -- which is true! There are also some hard mathematical advantages to getting good with money. Jesse points out how getting good with money, learning to set money aside for future expenses can net you great deals. In today's age of ubiquitous consumer credit, paying for things upfront becauase you already have the money can save you anywhere from a few percent to a large chunk (Jesse...
What My Kids Think About Money After 21 Years of YNAB
For a lot of people, money carries a lot of negative connotations and emotional baggage. But when you ask kids about money, before they have had a chance to develop negative associations with it, you can hear a different story. Jesse asked his kids what they thought about money and shares some of their answers. He also discusses how the Mecham family has introduced the concept of money to their kids and helped guide them to developing good habits and skills with it.
Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.co...
Who Could You Become If You Weren't Worried About Money?
It's an interesting question, isn't it? Imagine for a second... your credit cards are paid off, you have cash in the bank, your bills are on autopay and you don't even know when they will hit because you already have the money in your account. In fact, you get to the first day of the month and all your bills for that month are already paid for. What would this do to your stress? Your relationships with your friends and family? How would it affect the way you look at your life, your goals and desires?
You're Not You When You Are Worried About Money
Remember those Snickers commercials about people acting out because they were "hangry?" We could say the same thing happens to people who are stressed about money. Maybe you're shorter with your kids, maybe you feel pressure to work more hours, to move faster, maybe you argue with your spouse more -- however your money stress manifests, it still... manifests.
There's another way. You can learn to become good with money, to gain control over it rather than feeling like it controls you, and to get rid of your money stress forever. It's called YNAB. You c...
Money Destroys Relationships... But It Doesn't Have To
Money is the source of many relationship conflicts. It's the number one reason cited for divorce, for one. Money can, frankly, destroy relationships, but it doesn't have to. You can claim ownership of your money, and rid yourself of money stress -- and by extension, reduce your relationships stress too.
Jesse urges you to embrace curiosity — curiosity about what you can do and create with your money. You can incorporate a vision exercise into your daily routine with questions as small as "what do we want today to look like?" to big questions like "what do...
Start Where You Are, Not Where You "Should Be"
Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow
Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:
Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at: www.youneedabudget.com
Follow YNAB on social media:
Facebook: @ynabofficial
Instagram: @ynab.official
Twitter/X: @ynab
Tik Tok: @ynabofficial
Seeing the Whole Picture When You Spend
One of the interesting effects of using YNAB is how it shapes your vision of money through multiple viewpoints. There's the spending you are doing now, when you make a transaction, then there's the tradeoff that spending causes in the future, becuase the spending you do now impacts the spening you will do in the future.
Jesse gives the example of a man going out for sushi. The $30 he spends now on the sushi is $30 that he isn't spending on Christmas presents several months from now. The juxtaposition is a bit extreme, but the point i...
Waking Up From a Financial Bender? Don't Look Back
If life has pummeled you, and you've woken up from a financial bender -- hundreds of uncategorized transactions in YNAB with no recollection of what happend to all that money -- it's ok. Just get back on the horse and start again.
Jesse offers a humorous, and helpful, solution. Categorize all those transactions under a new category called "Bender," and start looking forward. Don't worry about what happened. Decide what your money needs to do for you now and in the near future, and assign the dollars you have now to those categories.
...
Bad With Money? It's Just a Skill Issue
If you think you're bad with money, you're not alone. Money management is not something that comes natural to most, and it's certainly not something that most of us are taught. But getting good with money is a skill, and that's good news! No matter where you are starting, you can get better at managing your money and learn to live stress-free when it comes to money.
Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow
Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:
...
Unpaid Bills Are Parasites
You've probably got an item or two on your to-do list that you never seem to get to. Whenever you think about, you aren't in a position to act on it. There always seems to be something in the way when you have time and attention to complete the task. Yet these open loops, as they are sometimes referred to, are a drain on your attention and mental capacity.
Unpaid bills are mental vampires too, clogging up your subconscious and draining your mental energy. With YNAB, you don't have worry about unpaid bills hanging over y...
Want to Stop Impulse Spending? Try Making a List
Almost everyone spends on impulse from time to time -- it's pretty normal human behavior -- but we don't always want to spend impulsively. Jesse recommends a simple strategy for dealing with your impulses: make a list! Write down all the things you want as they come to you.
Sometimes the act of writing something scratches the itch enough to satisfy your wanting. If it doesn't, however, that's where YNAB steps in. With YNAB you can not only write down your wants as categories, you can set dollars aside to pay for them. And when y...
Should I Build My Savings or Get Rid of Debt?
According to YouGov, one of the top resolutions for 2026 is saving more money. While Jesse has issues with the concept of "saving" money as he has discussed in previous podcasts, the intention is still clear -- people want to get to a more stable financial position, which (for most) means more cash in the bank and less debt. Jesse also points out that consumer debt continues to hit all time highs, which leads to his approach to the question: should I build my savings or pay off debt?
Jesse urges folks to consider, why do t...
It Matters
One small change can make a huge difference. Jesse shares a recent experience with his strength training. After stagnating and failing to make gains for a long while, he read about a simple post workout drink consisting of protein and dextrose powder. He tried it, felt his recovery jump through the roof after a few workouts, and started making gains again.
There's an analog when it comes to your money. Give every dollar a job. It's the one simple rule that YNAB uses to help you finally get control of your money. Like Jesse's postworkout s...
