YNAB’s strategy for using credit cards will keep you from spending money you don’t have. The approach is simple: only charge something if that money is already in the bank and it’s budgeted toward that expense. When you do this, you’re using your credit card only because you want to (yay, points!), not because you have to (I can pay this bill as soon as my next check arrives!). You’re essentially using it like a debit card. The only difference is that the cash stays in your checking account until you pay the bill. And you can pay the bill any day of the month, because the money is always
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