I started looking for a new way to do my finances as a result of a big change in my personal life that affected my expenses greatly. My day-to-day spending habits needed a strong adjustment, so when I saw Brett’s post about budget coaching, I decided to reach out and try something new!

I definitely feel more secure with knowing where my money is going, and when I make mistakes, I can almost hear Brett’s voice and see him shaking his head with a light-hearted laugh. Working through everything with Brett has been surprisingly enjoyable—his patience, understanding, and just the right amount of sass keep things fun, even though the topic is finances and budgeting—yuck.

My daily financial practices have drastically improved as I’ve noticed I’m sticking to my budget for quick expenses like coffee and dining out, thanks to a handy widget Brett showed me. It makes it easy to be like “Welp… I have $12.87 left for eating out, so no going out to my favorite Mexican restaurant again tonight,” as I remind myself in the mirror.

A specific moment that stood out to me was when I realized just how much I was spending on restaurants and drinks. It was a shocking and somewhat embarrassing moment, but Brett kept it light with his humorous, yet sincere suggestions, making it easier to face the hard truths and adjust my habits.

I absolutely recommend Brett’s coaching sessions to others and I have already been telling many friends about them. Everyone seems to be scared to even try because it’s a vulnerable spot dealing with money while facing a hard truth. I get it—when it’s laid out for you it can be a bit overwhelming, but the impact of knowing how to manage your money better is so worth it. I’ll keep recommending YNAB, but not on its own because it can be a lot to take on by yourself; I’ll only be recommending learning YNAB and budgeting with Brett because he made it seamless for me.