I'm starting my second month with YNAB and am starting to feel the familiar feeling of avoiding budgeting for next month. One of the reasons past attempts with budgeting have failed is that sooner or later I start to dread confronting reality about what I've spent and, instead, resolve to just spend as little as possible on everything and to avert my eyes from my bank statement when something unexpected comes up.
With YNAB, my first month has been eye-opening but it's been a harsh reality! I transferred some money from savings to start a buffer but I'm not fully buffered yet, so it's a little nerve wracking to begin the month knowing I don't have enough to cover all I'll need to. Even though I know I have a few paychecks coming in, following the YNAB rules gives me a clearer--and, therefore, harsher!--view of my financial landscape.
I've read others describe the good feeling they get when they really know and understand where their money goes. For me, it's mostly a feeling of vague guilt and anxiety. Is that something that goes away with time? Am I expecting too much progress too quickly?