# Expect the Unexpected

Canonical: https://brew.new/templates/ynab/expect-the-unexpected

Brand: ynab.com
Category: newsletter

![Preview of Expect the Unexpected](https://cdn.brew.new/email-preview-910ba44cb7bece66-tracking_r57jxsmv8c85ba36g41660t4sx8gqk9t-1792772562752.png)

## Email content

YNAB logo

colorful brain with wings doodle

Embrace Irregular Expenses

decorative

Hey there! 👋

When it comes to organizing your finances, paying down your debt, or reorganizing your garage, someday is everyone’s favorite day. Someday you’ll have enough time, or energy, or money, or… something. And maybe you will!

notification bell icon with dot

As much hope as someday brings, now is almost always a better option.

The best time to get good at money is now, the best time to pay off debt is now, and the best time to clean out your garage is, I don’t know, maybe someday.

There's No Such Thing as a Perfect Month

Part of getting good at money is to accept the unpredictability of life—and then do what you can to make it a little more predictable.

The holidays? They happen every year. Your car will need new tires eventually. At some point, an unexpected vet appointment will be necessary. It’s a lot to worry about.

Unless you make those large, non-monthly expenses part of the plan.

Part of getting good at money involves anticipating upcoming expenses and regularly setting small, manageable amounts of money aside to save yourself from the emotional drama of one big bill.

In YNAB, you’ll do this by creating, and slowly funding, categories for non-monthly expenses that will happen… someday. And when that day comes, you’ll have the money to cover the expense—without the emotional upheaval.

Next Steps

Will there still be surprises and missteps along the way? Of course! But you’re in good hands (yours!) and as you get good at money, you’ll build in some breathing room. We’ll talk about that tomorrow.

But for now, think about what steps you can take now (not someday! Right now!) that your future self will appreciate. Make a list of inevitable (yet somehow still often unexpected) expenses you can start saving towards.

💭 Need some examples to get started? Our YNAB non-monthly expenses template will show you common categories you can add straight to YNAB.

Cheers,

YNAB tree logo

The YNAB Team

YNAB tree logo

Facebook icon

X icon

Instagram icon

Tiktok icon

YouTube icon

Spotify icon

Copyright © 2026, YNAB, All Rights Reserved.

770 E. Main St, #236

Lehi, UT 84043

Unsubscribe or Update your preferences

[Open and remix this design](https://brew.new/templates/ynab/expect-the-unexpected)

[Browse email designs](https://brew.new/browse/templates)