Tools and prompts

Analyzes transaction history to find patterns and estimates monthly costs.

Provides category breakdowns, trends, and insights.

Provides key metrics, alerts, and recommendations.

Analyzes spending to identify areas where cuts might be possible.

Returns detailed budget vs actuals for all categories with variance analysis.

Returns key metrics: available funds, spending this month, account balances, and alerts. This is the best tool to use for general budget status questions.

Returns monthly income, expenses, net savings, and savings rate.

Includes both budget accounts and tracking accounts (investments, property, etc.). Returns breakdown by account type with total assets, liabilities, and net worth.

Returns goal progress, funding status, and projections for each category with a goal.

Returns top payees ranked by total spending with transaction counts and averages.

Helps identify categories that could be removed or consolidated.

Returns side-by-side comparison of spending, income, and category performance.

Returns month-by-month spending data with trend analysis.

Returns projected cash flow including scheduled income and expenses.

Returns uncleared transactions organized by account with totals.

Returns suggested monthly budget amounts for each category based on actual spending patterns.

Returns a quick list of all overspent categories with amounts.

Supports filtering by payee, category, amount range, date range, and text search. NOTE: If since_date is omitted, YNAB returns only the last 12 months of transactions (API 1.85 default). If only until_date is given, the search starts at the budget's first month so older ranges work (may fetch many transactions; still one request).

Returns current spending rate vs target rate with projections.

Returns current category balances with filtering options.

Returns credit card balances with corresponding payment category balances.

Returns the current age of money with context and improvement tips.

Validates all inputs and returns a preview with estimated costs. Does NOT create anything - use ynab_create_scheduled_transaction to actually create.

Returns budget names, IDs, last modified dates, first and last month, and date format. Optionally includes account summaries. Not possible through the YNAB API (do it in the YNAB app): creating, renaming or deleting plans (budgets), and changing plan settings.

Returns comprehensive budget data including all accounts, category groups, categories, and payees. Not possible through the YNAB API (do it in the YNAB app): creating, renaming or deleting plans (budgets), and changing plan settings.

Returns currency format, date format, and currency ISO code. Not possible through the YNAB API (do it in the YNAB app): creating, renaming or deleting plans (budgets), and changing plan settings such as currency or date format.

Returns account names, types, and current/cleared/uncleared balances, plus on_budget, closed, note, last_reconciled_at, direct import status, transfer_payee_id (use it as payee_id to record a transfer), and debt details (original balance, interest rates, minimum payments, escrow) when present. Pass since_server_knowledge (the server_knowledge of an earlier response) to get only the accounts changed since then. Not possible through the YNAB API (do it in the YNAB app): editing, closing or reopening accounts, setting up loan accounts, and changing interest rates.

Also returns transfer_payee_id: set it as payee_id on ynab_create_transaction to record a transfer into this account. Requires an account_id. Use ynab_list_accounts first to find the account ID. Not possible through the YNAB API (do it in the YNAB app): editing, closing or reopening an account, setting up loan accounts, and changing interest rates.

Account types (only these can be created via the YNAB API): checking, savings, cash, creditCard, otherAsset, otherLiability Balance should be provided in dollars (e.g., 1000.50). For credit cards and liability accounts, use a negative balance for amounts owed. Not possible through the YNAB API (do it in the YNAB app): editing, closing or reopening accounts, setting up loan accounts, and changing interest rates.

Returns category groups with their categories, including budgeted amounts, activity, and remaining balances. Pass since_server_knowledge (the server_knowledge of an earlier response) to get only the groups and categories changed since then. Budgeted, activity and balance are for the current month, and a new month changes them without YNAB reporting a change, so re-read in full after a month begins. Not possible through the YNAB API (do it in the YNAB app): target cadences other than monthly/weekly/yearly, due days, choosing the target type, and snoozing a target; hiding, unhiding, deleting or reordering categories and groups.

Requires a category_id. Use ynab_list_categories first to find the category ID. Not possible through the YNAB API (do it in the YNAB app): target cadences other than monthly/weekly/yearly, due days, choosing the target type, and snoozing a target.

Use first-of-month format for the month parameter (e.g., 2024-01-01 for January 2024). Requires a category_id. Use ynab_list_categories first to find the category ID. Not possible through the YNAB API (do it in the YNAB app): target cadences other than monthly/weekly/yearly, due days, choosing the target type, and snoozing a target.

To rename a category, change its note, move it to another group, or set/clear its target, use ynab_update_category_details instead (this tool only changes a month's budgeted amount). Use first-of-month format for the month parameter (e.g., 2024-01-01 for January 2024). The budgeted amount is in dollars (e.g., 500.00 for $500). Requires a category_id. Use ynab_list_categories first to find the category ID. **Note:** This is a write operation. Requires YNAB_READ_ONLY=false.

This subtracts the amount from the first category's budgeted amount and adds it to the second's, for the given month. It changes budgeted amounts only: it does NOT create a YNAB money-movement record, because the YNAB API has no money-movement write, so the move will not appear in ynab_list_money_movements. The two updates are not atomic: if the second fails, the tool tries to restore the first and reports whether that rollback succeeded. A failed move may need a manual check: if a request errors with an unknown outcome, or the source category was edited by someone else in the meantime, the tool does not guess and reports move_outcome_uncertain or move_partially_applied, and the categories should be verified with ynab_get_month_category. The amount is in dollars and must be greater than zero. The month is "current" or first-of-month format (e.g., 2024-01-01). Use ynab_list_categories to find category IDs. To set an absolute budgeted amount for one category use ynab_update_category. Internal categories (such as "Inflow: Ready to Assign") cannot be used as the source or target. To assign money from Ready to Assign to a category, set that category's budgeted amount with ynab_update_category. **Note:** This is a write operation. Requires YNAB_READ_ONLY=false.

- "Set a $50 weekly target for Dining Out" (goal_target 50 + goal_frequency "weekly") Provide at least one of name, note, category_group_id, goal_target (in dollars, e.g. 200 for $200), goal_target_date, goal_needs_whole_amount, goal_frequency (monthly|weekly|yearly; recurring target, requires goal_target, not combinable with goal_target_date). Target fields accept null to remove the existing value; note accepts null or "" to clear it. Moving into YNAB's internal category group is rejected. Requires a category_id (and a category_group_id when moving). Use ynab_list_categories first to find the IDs. To change how much is budgeted for a category in a given month, use ynab_update_category instead; this tool never changes budgeted amounts. **Note:** This is a write operation. Requires YNAB_READ_ONLY=false. Not possible through the YNAB API (do it in the YNAB app): target cadences other than monthly/weekly/yearly, due days, choosing the target type, snoozing, and hiding, unhiding, deleting or reordering categories.

Requires a category_group_id. Use ynab_list_categories first to find the group ID. Optionally set a target (goal) at creation: goal_target (in dollars, e.g. 200 for $200), goal_target_date (YYYY-MM-DD) and goal_needs_whole_amount. Supplying goal_target creates a monthly spending target. Add goal_frequency (monthly, weekly or yearly) with goal_target for a recurring "set aside" target (e.g. "Create Dining Out with a $50 weekly target" = goal_target 50, goal_frequency weekly); it cannot be combined with goal_target_date. **Note:** This is a write operation. Requires YNAB_READ_ONLY=false. Not possible through the YNAB API (do it in the YNAB app): hiding, unhiding, deleting or reordering categories, target cadences other than monthly/weekly/yearly, due days, choosing the target type, and snoozing a target.

Category groups organize related categories (e.g., "Monthly Bills", "Fun Money"). After creating a group, use ynab_create_category to add categories to it. **Note:** This is a write operation. Requires YNAB_READ_ONLY=false. Not possible through the YNAB API (do it in the YNAB app): hiding, unhiding, deleting or reordering category groups.

Requires a category_group_id. Use ynab_list_categories first to find the group ID. **Note:** This is a write operation. Requires YNAB_READ_ONLY=false. Not possible through the YNAB API (do it in the YNAB app): hiding, unhiding, deleting or reordering category groups.

- "Show all transactions for March" (month: "2024-03-01") Supports filtering by date (ISO or natural language like "past 30 days", "this month") and type (uncategorized/unapproved). Returns transaction details including date, payee, amount, category, and status. NOTE: If since_date is omitted, YNAB returns only the last 12 months of transactions (API 1.85 default). Pass an earlier since_date to see older history. until_date sets an inclusive upper bound. Pass month (YYYY-MM-01 or "current") to list a single budget month instead of the default 12-month window; it can be narrowed further with since_date/until_date. Pass since_server_knowledge (the server_knowledge of an earlier response with the same filters) to get only the transactions changed since then. If more changed than limit, the response keeps your cursor (cursor_withheld: true) so nothing is skipped. A delta may leave out a transaction that changed so it no longer matches the filters; re-read in full to keep a filtered list exact.

Requires a transaction_id. Use ynab_list_transactions first to find the transaction ID.

Requires READ_ONLY mode to be disabled (YNAB_READ_ONLY=false). Amount should be negative for expenses/outflows and positive for income/inflows. Split transactions: pass subtransactions (at least 2, each with amount in dollars and optional payee_id/payee_name, category_id, memo). Split amounts must sum exactly to the parent amount, and the parent must not set category_id. The splits of an existing transaction cannot be edited afterwards (YNAB limitation), so get them right on creation. Pass import_id to make the create idempotent: the request is sent in YNAB's skip-duplicates form, so if that import_id already exists nothing is created and the result has success=false with duplicate_import_ids.

Requires READ_ONLY mode to be disabled (YNAB_READ_ONLY=false). Only provide the fields you want to change; omitted fields stay unchanged. To clear a field, pass null (distinct from omitting it): category_id null uncategorizes the transaction, payee_id null clears the payee, memo null clears the memo. Split limitation: YNAB cannot edit the splits of an existing transaction, so you cannot change, add or remove splits here. To restructure splits, delete the transaction and create a new one with subtransactions via ynab_create_transaction.

Requires READ_ONLY mode to be disabled (YNAB_READ_ONLY=false). This action cannot be undone.

Requires READ_ONLY mode to be disabled (YNAB_READ_ONLY=false). Maximum 100 transactions per request. Use import_id to prevent duplicate imports. Any item may carry subtransactions (at least 2, amounts in dollars) to create a split transaction: split amounts must sum exactly to that item's amount, and the item must not set category_id. YNAB cannot edit the splits of an existing transaction afterwards.

Each entry must include exactly one of id or import_id to address the transaction. Use ynab_list_transactions first to find ids. Amounts are in dollars (e.g., -42.50 for a $42.50 outflow). To clear a field, pass null (distinct from omitting it, which leaves it unchanged): category_id null uncategorizes, payee_id null clears the payee, memo null clears the memo. YNAB cannot edit the splits of an existing transaction. **Note:** This is a write operation. Requires YNAB_READ_ONLY=false.

Pass type ("unapproved" or "uncategorized") to narrow to transactions that need attention. Requires an account_id. Use ynab_list_accounts first to find the account ID. NOTE: If since_date is omitted, YNAB returns only the last 12 months of transactions (API 1.85 default). Pass an earlier since_date to see older history. until_date sets an inclusive upper bound. Pass since_server_knowledge (the server_knowledge of an earlier response with the same filters) to get only the transactions changed since then. If more changed than limit, the response keeps your cursor (cursor_withheld: true) so nothing is skipped. A delta may leave out a transaction that changed so it no longer matches the filters; re-read in full to keep a filtered list exact.

Pass type ("unapproved" or "uncategorized") to narrow to transactions that need attention. Requires a category_id. Use ynab_list_categories first to find the category ID. NOTE: If since_date is omitted, YNAB returns only the last 12 months of transactions (API 1.85 default). Pass an earlier since_date to see older history. until_date sets an inclusive upper bound. Pass since_server_knowledge (the server_knowledge of an earlier response with the same filters) to get only the transactions changed since then. If more changed than limit, the response keeps your cursor (cursor_withheld: true) so nothing is skipped. A delta may leave out a transaction that changed so it no longer matches the filters; re-read in full to keep a filtered list exact.

Pass type ("unapproved" or "uncategorized") to narrow to transactions that need attention. Requires a payee_id. Use ynab_list_payees first to find the payee ID. NOTE: If since_date is omitted, YNAB returns only the last 12 months of transactions (API 1.85 default). Pass an earlier since_date to see older history. until_date sets an inclusive upper bound. Pass since_server_knowledge (the server_knowledge of an earlier response with the same filters) to get only the transactions changed since then. If more changed than limit, the response keeps your cursor (cursor_withheld: true) so nothing is skipped. A delta may leave out a transaction that changed so it no longer matches the filters; re-read in full to keep a filtered list exact.

Do NOT use this tool to sync, refresh, or pull in bank transactions. It will not fetch new transactions. To review recent transactions, use ynab_list_transactions instead. Kept registered for backward compatibility only. Makes no API call and returns deprecated: true with an explanatory message and an imported_count of 0.

Returns scheduled transaction details including frequency, next occurrence, and amounts. Pass since_server_knowledge (the server_knowledge of an earlier response) to get only the scheduled transactions changed since then.

Requires a scheduled_transaction_id. Use ynab_list_scheduled_transactions first to find the ID.

Requires READ_ONLY mode to be disabled (YNAB_READ_ONLY=false). Date must be in the future and within 5 years. Amount should be negative for expenses/outflows and positive for income/inflows. Split limitation: YNAB cannot create scheduled transactions with splits, so a scheduled transaction has a single category. Splits are only supported when creating a regular transaction (ynab_create_transaction).

Requires READ_ONLY mode to be disabled (YNAB_READ_ONLY=false). Only provided fields will be updated. Split limitation: YNAB scheduled transactions cannot have splits, and the splits of an existing split scheduled transaction cannot be edited through the API.

Requires READ_ONLY mode to be disabled (YNAB_READ_ONLY=false). This action cannot be undone.

Returns payee names and IDs. Payees are merchants, people, or places you transact with. Pass since_server_knowledge (the server_knowledge of an earlier response) to get only the payees changed since then. Not possible through the YNAB API (do it in the YNAB app): deleting or merging payees, and editing payee locations.

Requires a payee_id. Use ynab_list_payees first to find the payee ID.

Most of the time payees are created automatically when you add a transaction with a new payee_name. Use this tool when you need a payee to exist ahead of time. **Note:** This is a write operation. Requires YNAB_READ_ONLY=false. Not possible through the YNAB API (do it in the YNAB app): deleting or merging payees, and editing payee locations.

Requires a payee_id. Use ynab_list_payees first to find the payee ID. **Note:** This is a write operation. Requires YNAB_READ_ONLY=false. Not possible through the YNAB API (do it in the YNAB app): deleting or merging payees, and editing payee locations.

Returns payee locations with latitude/longitude for mapping purposes. Not possible through the YNAB API (do it in the YNAB app): adding, editing or deleting payee locations.

Returns the details of a single payee location including coordinates.

Returns all recorded locations for a specific payee.

Returns each month's income, budgeted, activity, and to-be-budgeted amounts. Pass since_server_knowledge (the server_knowledge of an earlier response) to get only the months changed since then.

Use first-of-month format for the month parameter (e.g., 2024-01-01 for January 2024). Use "current" for the current month.

Returns each movement's amount (formatted, plus amount_milliunits), the categories it moved between, when it happened and who performed it (performed_by_user_id, masked). Pass month (YYYY-MM-01 or "current") to limit to a single budget month. Pass group_by_group=true to get movements nested under their money movement group (money_movement_groups[].movements, plus ungrouped_movements) instead of a flat list; it costs one extra request.

Each group has an id, creation time, month, note and who performed it (performed_by_user_id, masked). Use the group id to match entries from ynab_list_money_movements (money_movement_group_id). Pass month (YYYY-MM-01 or "current") to limit to one budget month.

No parameters.

Returns the user's ID.

No parameters.

Use when you need to: - Check how many API requests are available - See if rate limiting might affect operations - Plan large operations that require many API calls YNAB allows 200 requests per hour. This server uses 180 as a safety margin. If YNAB itself has answered 429 (too many requests), ynab_exhausted shows when that happened and when requests are allowed again; until then requests fail fast.

Shows all create, update, and delete operations with timestamps.

No parameters.

Use when: - Troubleshooting connection issues - Verifying the server is configured correctly - Checking if the YNAB API is accessible Returns server status, API connectivity, and configuration details.