"Honestly, the automation alone saved me hours...and probably a few gray hairs."
Totally relate to this! When we were building our home, I initially tried tracking everything manually—big mistake. Here's what worked wonders for me: first, set up separate categories in YNAB specifically for each construction phase (foundation, framing, finishes, etc.). Then schedule recurring reminders for loan payments and contractor invoices. Finally, link your bank accounts directly—this step alone made a huge difference. Trust me, less stress means more creativity to focus on designing your dream space...
Totally agree, automation is key. I skipped the YNAB route (felt a bit overwhelming at first...) and just used a simple spreadsheet with auto-updating formulas. Saved my sanity and probably my marriage, lol. Whatever works, right?
Automation definitely helps, but honestly, spreadsheets can get messy fast—especially when you're juggling multiple draws and change orders. I tried the spreadsheet route at first too, but found myself constantly tweaking formulas or hunting down errors. Eventually switched to a simple project management app (Buildertrend in my case), and it streamlined everything. Took a bit of setup, sure...but once running, it was way less stressful than my spreadsheet days. Just another perspective to consider if things start feeling chaotic again.
Buildertrend sounds handy, I've heard good things about it from others too. I've been sticking with spreadsheets mostly because they're familiar (and free!), but yeah, the constant formula tweaking does get old fast. Did Buildertrend have a steep learning curve or was it pretty intuitive once you got going? Curious if anyone else has found simpler apps that are budget-friendly for smaller DIY projects like mine...
I tried Buildertrend a while back when we were renovating our kitchen, and honestly, it was pretty intuitive once I got past the initial setup. But for smaller DIY stuff, it felt a bit overkill—like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. I've since switched to Trello combined with Google Sheets. Trello helps me track tasks visually, and Sheets handles the numbers without too much fuss. Have you looked into something like that combo? Might be worth a shot if you're after simplicity and budget-friendly options...
