Services

  • YNAB budget setup, including accounts, categories, and spending targets

  • One-off YNAB Q&A sessions

  • Bills/subscriptions review and optimization

  • Credit card/bank account bonus guidance

Financial and Budget Coaching

I help people work through creating and maintaining a budget - one of the first and biggest steps toward gaining control of their financial life.Budgeting is simply making a plan for how you want to spend your money, but it can be intimidating - you need to face your current spending habits and determine if they align with your true priorities.Using a tool like YNAB can be a great start, but if learning new software isn't your favorite thing or you want some help along the way, a coach can fast-track your setup, answer questions, and provide accountability.

How can my services help you?

If you find yourself in any of the following situations, a financial coach might be a great fit:

  • You want to create a budget but aren't sure what they are or how to get started.

  • You make money but can't seem to track where it's going or how much is being saved.

  • You have debt and want to make a real plan to pay it off.

  • You're dreaming about a vacation or new car but want to make sure you have the money so you can enjoy it guilt-free.

  • You want to find creative ways to save money on bills/subscriptions or make extra money.

Have questions? Send me an email at [email protected] or book a free introductory session!

Information

I am a YNAB Certified Budgeting Coach, which means that I have been trained to coach people on using YNAB software and the YNAB budgeting method. I have met select requirements of You Need a Budget LLC in order to receive this certification, which means that I have the ability to competently coach YNAB to others. I am not an employee of YNAB, and all non-YNAB related opinions and recommendations are my own. My views do not reflect the views of YNAB and its employees or its affiliates.

YNAB Disclaimer

Copyright © 2024 Matt Lenhart Coaching

Frequently Asked Questions

How does your financial and budget coaching work?
Generally, coaching is delivered over one or more meetings, depending on your current situation and overall goals. If you are new to budgeting, a series of three initial sessions is usually best - discovery, setup, and a 1 month check-in.What tools do I need to work with you?
I meet with clients using Google Meet and use YNAB to help clients create their budget.Google accounts are completely free (if you use Gmail, you already have one!); YNAB is a subscription software tool, but offers a 30+ day free trial.Why do you use YNAB for budgeting?
I have tried many different options for managing my family's finances over the years. YNAB is not just a budgeting app. It's also a methodology that addresses the "why" behind money management - give all of your money a purpose, plan for infrequent but predictable expenses, and work toward making your money last longer. These are critical lessons that help budgeters create a plan and stick with it for the long term. It's why I believe YNAB is the best tool for budgeting and what made me want to become a coach.Do I need to subscribe or sign up long-term?
Definitely not! I am happy to schedule one-off sessions if you would like to ask some questions or ensure your current plan is on the right track.

Have other questions? Send me an email: [email protected]

Sessions & Packages

Below are my current offerings for budget coaching. If you are interested in other options, please book a free introductory call or email me.

  • Introductory Call - a quick meet and greet to make sure my services are right for you.

  • Budget Starter - a three-session package to help you start a new budget in YNAB. Includes a discovery call, setup call, and 1-month checkin + maintenance call.

  • YNAB Q&A - if you already have a budget in YNAB but have some questions, this one-time meeting can get you the answers you need.

Copyright © 2024 Matt Lenhart Coaching

About Me

My Background
I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and I still live here today with my own family of 5. As a software coach and consultant for nearly 20 years, I have a passion for finding creative ways to solve challenges using technology. I believe personal finance is one of life's biggest and most important challenges and that YNAB is one of the best tools to help solve it.Why I Coach
I have always been passionate about personal finance, but the concept of conscious spending - being mentally aware of a choice to spend money on one thing vs. something else at a later time - didn't resonate with me until after I had a family. Before that, my focus was on "surviving" each month - as long as I spent a few dollars less than I earned, I was in good shape.YNAB helped me realize the value in looking forward, thinking about goals, and making a plan to achieve them so that every purchase can be a conscious decision between priorities - is this a purchase part of my plan or am I choosing it over another priority? My goal is to help others make this realization, hopefully earlier in life than I did, and feel more confident about their financial lives.Why Work with Me
I try to approach coaching as a conversation. My goal is to talk through problems, asking questions along the way, rather than lecturing or "telling" someone what they should do. This is especially important in personal finance, where every person's situation is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all strategy for managing their money.I am very patient when it comes to dealing with technology and understand that it's not everyone's favorite thing to do - though it is a necessary part of life these days.My ultimate goal is for clients to come away from every session with a better understanding of the "why" behind what they are doing - working toward financial freedom and making sure their money works as hard for them as they worked for it.

Copyright © 2024 Matt Lenhart Coaching