You Need A Sandbox

Too Long; Didn't Read

The Problem

The You Need A Budget (YNAB) method emphasizes aligning your budget with evolving priorities. As a YNAB subscriber, whenever my priorities shift, I utilize a Google Sheet to assess their compatibility with my budget. However, updating my budget entails spending hours ensuring accuracy and alignment.

The Solution

Implement a sandbox mode within the YNAB software to enable users to experiment with their budget parameters without affecting their actual budget. This sandbox environment will allow users to test various scenarios and adjustments freely. Once satisfied with the changes, users can seamlessly update their budget by pressing a designated button. This feature provides users with a risk-free space to explore different budgeting strategies. It ensures a smooth transition of approved changes to their live budget.

Introduction

YNAB offers a comprehensive budgeting tool available across web, tablet, and mobile platforms, coupled with a proven method aimed at financial stability and savings. Accessible resources include free online materials detailing the YNAB Method and complimentary live workshops to assist users in mastering the software and methodology. The suggested addition is a sandbox feature within the software itself. This feature would allow users to experiment with their budget in a risk-free environment, similar to a Google Sheet method currently utilized. Upon finalizing a budget within the sandbox, users could seamlessly apply it to their actual budget with the push of a button, enhancing efficiency and efficacy compared to the manual process.

Audience

Our primary audience comprises active YNAB users dedicated to daily budget management seeking to redefine their budget structure, enact substantial changes, or initiate a fresh budgeting approach. These users engage with the app frequently for transaction input, reconciliation, and minor budget adjustments. Secondary users are passive YNABers, focusing on weekly budget management with periodic need for budget overhaul or restart. Tertiary users include new or occasional YNABers, typically engaging in monthly budgeting activities. The proposed sandbox mode offers a streamlined budget setup based on past income averages. It facilitates straightforward budget adjustments, catering to the needs of monthly users and those seeking a fresh start.

Sprint 1

For the initial sprint, I aimed to assess the term "sandbox," commonly understood as an isolated testing environment within the tech industry, through a survey distributed on social media. Participants were presented with a multiple-choice question via Google Forms, inquiring about their interpretation of the term "sandbox" in computer software. Surprisingly, only 48.5% of respondents were familiar with its meaning, prompting consideration of an alternative term for the feature.

Sprint 2

For my second test, I aimed to evaluate users' ability to locate and comprehend the functionality of the "sandbox" feature within the web app while also introducing the term "experiment" as an alternative. This served as the initial trial for the sandbox feature overall. I distributed the prototype link to the You Need A Budget Fans page on Facebook and conducted in-person testing sessions with frequent software users. During this testing phase, feedback was obtained primarily through face-to-face interactions and outreach on social media, as participation from the You Need A Budget Fans page was limited. Insights revealed challenges in discovering the feature, with the term "experiment" better understood than "sandbox." However, users found the feature intuitive and safe for adjusting categories. Improvements identified include enhancing the visibility of the feature and refining button wording for clarity and formality. Considerations for future iterations include providing a tutorial for new features and adjusting button language to alleviate user discomfort.

Sprint 3

Following feedback from the initial feature test, adjustments were made, including changing the term "Experiment" to "Test" and updating the button language from "Let's Do This" to "Apply." Additionally, I incorporated two new screens to provide a tutorial similar to YNAB's standard approach for significant updates. In the subsequent sprint, I updated and tested the sandbox feature, focusing on user autonomy and comprehension, measured by participants' ability to navigate the feature independently and articulate its benefits. Testing involved UVU students and individuals familiar with YNAB, ensuring diverse perspectives. While users generally felt comfortable adjusting their budgets within the sandbox, areas for improvement were identified, including clarification on income adjustment options, refinement of tutorial messaging, and increased visibility of the sandbox status during use.

Conclusion

The prototype demonstrates notable improvements over the current state, enhancing efficiency in budget adjustments. However, there remains room for refinement based on feedback received. Proposed enhancements include implementing a "history" feature within the sandbox, allowing users to track and revert to previous budget iterations, alongside the ability to save sandboxes for future use. I also added an "undo" function to facilitate reverting changes and restoring the original budget state when necessary.

Key Takeaways

Priorities often evolve, necessitating corresponding adjustments to budgets.
The application currently lacks a sandbox feature.
Transitioning between YNAB and Google Sheets proves to be a time-intensive process.

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