Honest, No-BS Budget Coaching For People Who Want Money To Finally Feel Easy
Because helping you set up a realistic and actually stick-with-it-able plan for your money using the best budget software on the planet? (Yeah, I’m looking at you, YNAB). That’s my specialty.
So, you’re tired of money stressing you out?
MAYBE YOU…
😣 Don’t actually know where your money is going each month (and you’re too scared to try and find out).
😣 Are thinking of turning down that invitation to brunch with friends (because can you even afford it?)
😣 Aren’t sure if your paycheck will cover your expenses (or if you need to start tutoring to make ends meet).
😣 Feel exhausted from trying to keep mental tabs on your spending (and that mental math isn’t exactly mathing)
Living with this kind of financial uncertainty? I’m just going to say it: IT SUCKS.
The dread of checking your bank account, the guilt of overspending, the unknown of it all… it all adds up.
And, if you’re anything like me, that’s when your mental health takes a nosedive (and life gets a lot less fun).
But a budget? That you can actually stick to? That still lets you spend money on the things you care about? That (for once) MAKES SENSE?
…is that even possible?
OH YEAH. IT’S POSSIBLE ALRIGHT.
You can create a budget that prioritizes your mental health (and your manicures, too).
Real talk: the idea that budgeting means you can’t do “frivolous” things that you love?
That’s complete BS.
A budget is what makes it possible for you to pick up a sweet treat at the grocery store, become a regular at the pilates studio, and buy new birkenstocks when you technically don’t NEED them—all completely guilt-free.
Because you planned for it. You saved for it. You knew you could afford it while still paying your bills.
Because you created a budgeting system.
And I’m not out here making or investing a million dollars a year.
Nope—I’m literally JUST budgeting.
There are a lot of budgeting tools out there that you could use to create your system—but I play favorites.
I started using YNAB in 2017 and I am not exaggerating when I say that it changed my life. I've paid off my student loans. I bought a brand new car and paid that off too. I get manicures twice a month. My soulmate dog Zoey has everything her cute little puppy heart could wish for.
YNAB helped me go from being a teacher in NYC who was never quite sure where her money was going (and always felt like there wasn’t quite enough) to someone with complete financial clarity who can make intentional choices about how she spends her money.
Because unlike other budgeting apps that just predict what you might spend (cough cough RIP Mint cough), YNAB helps you make real decisions (and SMART decisions!) with the money you actually have.
Once I learned how to prioritize every dollar I earned, all that money stress finally disappeared.
But the thing about YNAB? I won’t lie to you…It can be a steep learning curve.
Many people try YNAB on their own, get overwhelmed, and give up before seeing results. Then they go back to being stressed and frustrated and ashamed about the numbers they see in their bank accounts.
That’s why working with a YNAB coach can make all the difference.
(Especially one who has a knack for breaking down complicated concepts into manageable steps because, hello—they did it every day as a middle school math teacher! 💁♀️)
After finding my own success with YNAB—and subsequently becoming obsessed with using it every day—I wanted to tell everybody about how amazing it was.
And when I found out I could become a YNAB certified coach?
Well that was a no-brainer.
Because my systems-loving brain + a background in getting confused 12-year-olds to successfully solve algebraic equations + a zero BS approach?
…plus YNAB? 😍
That equals a match made in freaking budget heaven!
THE THING IS…
I’m not here to tell you what to do with your money.
You won’t hear me tell you “No, Alexis Rose, you can’t spend $3k a month on dining out” if that is ACTUALLY realistic for your budget. (But we’ll probably have a conversation to make sure that aligns with your priorities before we give it the ol’ stamp of approval.)
And you’ll never hear me say sh*t like “diversification” or “asset allocation.”
I’m just a girl, with a very cute dog, who happens to be obsessed with YNAB—and wants you to be too.
(like Sara ↓)
“Using YNAB has changed my financial life, and I would have given up on trying to figure it out without Maggie.”
"She walked me through the set up, answered all my detailed questions, and set me up for success so I could manage it on my own (without any judgment as to my financial situation!). I’ve now tripled my net worth and live with so much less financial stress!"
— Sara W.
SO HERE’S HOW I CAN HELP YOU GET YOUR $$$ ON YOUR SIDE:
Introducing…
One-on-One YNAB Coaching
Let’s work together to set up and maintain your YNAB budget so that you can finally understand where your money is going—and start making choices you feel good about.
YNAB from Scratch
Stress free YNAB set up for new users$399
One Time FeeEverything you need to get your YNAB budget up and running (without the “this is too hard, actually I’ve changed my mind” drama). This package includes:
💰 Four coaching calls where we actually get sh*t done (one to figure out your goals, two to set everything up, and one to troubleshoot after you've been using it)
💰 A ridiculously detailed Notion client hub that walks you through everything (I may have gone overboard, but you'll thank me later)
💰 Instant messaging support via Voxer for 3 months because you WILL have questions at 10 pm on a Tuesday
💰 Weekly peeks at your budget from me, your new YNAB Coach (Promise I'll let you know if something looks weird)
💰 3 free months of YNAB (2 months if you’re already registered)
💰 Access to discounted follow-up sessions for when you need a refresher or life throws you a money curveball, or the YNAB Buddy System membership at a special rate just for YNAB From Scratch alumni!
I'll walk you through everything from entering your first transactions to handling credit cards (legit the trickiest part everyone struggles with).
Want to have me, a certified YNAB junkie coach, in your pocket to answer ALL your questions for a full 3 months while you get comfortable with your beautiful new budget?
The YNAB Buddy System
A monthly support system$179 a month
3 month commitment requiredThis is the ongoing support you need to make sure you don't abandon ship when things get complicated. With this monthly subscription, you'll get:
💰 One targeted coaching call each month
💰 Continuous instant messaging support via Voxer (because budget emergencies don't wait for scheduled calls)
💰 Access to the VERY comprehensive YNAB client hub in Notion
💰 Weekly budget check-ins where I actually look at your budget (and help fix what's broken)
💰 Extra coaching sessions available whenever you need them ($125/hour)
💰 3 free months of YNAB (2 months if you’re already a user)
I do ask for a 3-month minimum commitment for this plan because, let's be real, habits take time to stick. But I'll be there through all the "wait, where did my money go?" moments—and we'll figure it out together. (Literal hand-holding not required).
If you need someone who'll be honest with you about your spending and keep you accountable while honoring your priorities?
The Budget SOS Call
A focused troubleshooting session for one specific YNAB issue$199
This is the ongoing support you need to make sure you don't abandon ship when things get complicated. With this monthly subscription, you'll get:
💰 One full hour with your very own YNAB coach spent tackling whatever budget crisis you're currently facing
💰 You pick the topic—credit card confusion, reconciling nightmares, setting up sinking funds… whatever's giving you a headache, we’ll figure it out together
💰 2 weeks of instant messaging support via Voxer after our call (because follow-up questions always happen, and I’d never leave you hanging)
These one-off sessions are perfect for YNAB users who just need to figure out THAT ONE THING before they can go happily on their way back to budgeting bliss 😌
Working with me as your YNAB Coach might be the right move for you if…
You are ready to put in the work (because your budget only works if you do!)
You’re willing to be actually open and honest with me about your money
You never want your bank account to give you a scare ever again.
You value honesty and a “give it me straight” vibe (because I don’t sugarcoat)
You want to understand where your money is going—and feel good about it
You’re looking for a nonjudgmental partner who won’t scare you with finance jargon
You know time IS money, and you’re willing to invest in help to get this thing right the first time
Oh, and you don’t mind the occasional swear word 😜
“I feel SO much more calm knowing I have a full understanding and plan for my finances.”
“I used random and unhelpful budgeting systems before Maggie helped me learn about YNAB. Now I’ve been using YNAB for over a year and it has completely changed the way I interact with my money.
Maggie is a great coach. She tailored our coaching sessions to my life and budget (where I have really variable income each month!) and was incredibly helpful answering follow-up questions and making sure I understood how to use YNAB.”
— Elsa O.
Hi, I’m Maggie, and if you let me be your YNAB Coach (and your budget bestie), I will actually freak out 🤩
You should know I’m a former math teacher (and a current EdTech Project Manager), Zoey’s roommate (she pays rent by being the world’s cutest dog), and after work, I’m winning the Most Likely to Be Found Knitting award (with Schitt’s Creek playing in the background—again).
And, of course, I’m the “won’t shut up about YNAB” friend in the group chat.
I know first hand how overwhelming it can be to start—and stick with—budgeting. But that overwhelm’s got nothing on an amazing certified YNAB coach who knows how to make the complicated stuff simple.
(And yes—the amazing coach I’m referring to is, of course, ME. Because I’m both amazing and incredibly humble, can’t you tell?)
If you’re like, “Maggie, shut up and take my money already, I’m so freaking in!”
Here’s what can happen next:
You’ll officially inquire and fill out a quick survey to tell me about your situation and goals
I’ll reply within 72 hours about setting up a call to answer any questions you have about the package you’re interested in.
If we decide it’s a good fit, it’s ON! You’ll pay, book your first session, get your fancy schmancy customized Notion Client Dashboard, and fill out one more (lengthier but very important) survey to tell me all your goals, struggles, and frustrations re: your money.
Then we start the real work—and get you YNABing!
I bet you have some questions
And I like to answer questions. So I wrote this section for you!
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If you’ve never heard of YNAB before, it probably makes sense to go check out their website to get the ~full experience~ BUT promise you’ll come back here after you do, okay? (...did you say “okay” back? 👀)
The short of it? It’s a budgeting app you can use on your computer or your phone that helps you be proactive about your finances by “giving every dollar a job.” (AKA buy you groceries, pay your water bill, or help you afford a housekeeper.) While other budgeting apps just track where money went, with YNAB, you actually decide where money goes before you spend it. And that’s why it’s so freaking magical.
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I think it’s 100% worth it. Sure, you could technically build yourself a budgeting spreadsheet, but to make it do everything that YNAB can do? I have a headache already just thinking about it. YNAB’s able to automate complex calculations, it’ll sync across your devices, it gives you visual reports that are way better than what you’d see in Excel, and I really believe it’s user-friendly (once you know what you’re doing).
Plus, working with me gets you an extra two months on top of the 34-day free trial YNAB offers new users, so you’ll have plenty of time to check it out and decide for yourself. -
YNAB can be paid for monthly or yearly—$14.99 a month with the monthly plan or $109 a year with the annual plan (which saves $70!). The annual plan works out to YNAB costing just 30 cents a day 👀
(And don’t forget, if you’re a new user, you get 3 free months—two on top of standard 34-day free trial—when we work together!) -
I know it might feel scary, but YES, you will need to share your exact income, expenses, and spending numbers with me for our work together to be effective. But please know that this is a totally judgment-free zone and, if it helps you feel more comfortable, I’ll absolutely show you my numbers before you show me yours.
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Nope! Please send me absolutely ZERO bank account login information. I do not need it and I do not want it! Your passwords are yours to keep private—we just need to talk numbers.
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Completely confidential! Everything you share with me about your finances is kept private—and I take that promise seriously. I’ll never share about your money situation with others and I treat your financial data with the same care and discretion I'd want for my own.
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Great question and the simple answer is YES… IF you use the same budget. Typically, one budget = one fee, two budgets = two fees. But, the more complicated answer? If you’re two people with two separate budgets but you still want to both be on the same page, fill out the inquiry form and we can find a solution that works for you!
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Let me be very clear: I am NOT a financial advisor or coach. That is something entirely different. A financial advisor will tell you what to do with your money. A financial coach will tell you how to make more money. I am just a girl who loves (and is really good at using) YNAB and wants to help you make a budget that actually works.
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Once we begin working together, I cannot issue any refunds. BUT (and this very important context), by “inquiring” from this page, you will only be requesting a no-cost chat with me to get your questions answered—NOT committing to YNAB coaching! You won’t pay a penny until you are sure this is the right move for you.
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A budget is only useful if it’s up-to-date and accurate. So between our meetings, you will need to put in some work to add your transactions and give all your dollars a job. The exact amount of time depends on each person’s individual situation, but yes, you will have homework and you will need to do that homework in order to be successful.
Did you hear my teacher voice when I said that? shudders
Got more questions? Fill out this form and I’ll answer them for you!
Still not sure if this is right for you?
Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. But there’s only one way to know for sure.
If you click that cute little button down there, you can fill out a short form to tell me why you’re interested (and why you’re hesitating). From there, we can hop on a quick no-cost call to talk through it face-to-face. I’m not gonna pressure you (that’s just not my thing), but if I think it’s a good fit, I’ll tell it to you straight.
Oh, and you’d also get to meet Zoey, my very cute dog. So. You’re probably going to want to click below just for that reason alone, right?
I am a YNAB Certified Coach, which means that I have been trained to coach people on using YNAB software and the YNAB method. I have met select requirements of YNAB 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.