Analysis Prompts¶
These prompts help you understand your budget's current state and trends. Each one guides the AI through a structured analysis workflow -- fetching your data, interpreting it, and delivering clear, actionable insights.
Analysis prompts are what make YNAB MCP more than an API wrapper. Instead of raw numbers, you get a budgeting advisor that knows what to look for.
Budget ID is optional
All analysis prompts accept an optional budget_id parameter. If you don't provide one, the AI will look up your budgets first and ask which one to use.
Budget Health Analysis¶
What it does: A comprehensive assessment of your budget's overall health, covering your To Be Budgeted balance, overspending (distinguishing cash vs credit), underfunded goals, and improvement recommendations.
When to use:
- Monthly budget check-in
- After a large unexpected expense
- When you feel like your budget is "off" but can't pinpoint why
- Before making a major financial decision
Parameters:
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
budget_id |
No | The budget to analyze. Resolved automatically if omitted. |
What you'll get: A structured report covering your TBB state, any overspent categories (with cash vs credit distinction), underfunded goals, and prioritized recommendations for getting back on track.
Spending Trends¶
What it does: Multi-month spending comparison that identifies categories with increasing, decreasing, or volatile spending patterns over the last 3 months.
When to use:
- Wondering where your money has been going lately
- Preparing for a budget adjustment
- Identifying lifestyle creep
- Quarterly financial review
Parameters:
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
budget_id |
No | The budget to analyze. Resolved automatically if omitted. |
What you'll get: Month-over-month spending changes by category, categories with the largest increases, and trend lines that highlight where your spending habits are shifting.
Budget Setup Advisor¶
What it does: First-time YNAB budget setup guidance that walks through creating accounts, organizing categories, performing initial allocation, and explaining the Four Rules in practical terms.
When to use:
- Setting up YNAB for the first time
- Starting fresh with a new budget
- Helping a partner or family member get started
- Restructuring an existing budget from scratch
Parameters:
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
budget_id |
No | The budget to set up. Resolved automatically if omitted. |
What you'll get: A step-by-step walkthrough from account creation through initial budget allocation, with coaching-style explanations of why each step matters.
Debt Payoff Planner¶
What it does: Identifies all debt accounts and presents avalanche and snowball payoff strategies with trade-offs, helping you choose and implement a plan.
When to use:
- Ready to tackle debt systematically
- Comparing payoff strategies (avalanche vs snowball)
- Reviewing progress on an existing payoff plan
- After paying off a debt and reallocating payments
Parameters:
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
budget_id |
No | The budget to analyze. Resolved automatically if omitted. |
What you'll get: A debt inventory with balances and rates, side-by-side comparison of payoff strategies, estimated payoff timelines, and a recommended action plan.
Savings Goal Tracker¶
What it does: Lists all savings goals, calculates progress percentages, identifies underfunded goals, and creates prioritized funding recommendations.
When to use:
- Checking progress toward savings targets
- Deciding which goal to fund next
- After receiving extra income
- Monthly goal review
Parameters:
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
budget_id |
No | The budget to analyze. Resolved automatically if omitted. |
What you'll get: A progress dashboard for all goals showing funded vs target amounts, percentage complete, and a prioritized list of which goals need attention most.
Income Allocation¶
What it does: Guides through allocating new income following YNAB's recommended priority order: immediate obligations, true expenses, quality of life, and savings goals.
When to use:
- Payday -- allocating new income
- Received a bonus or windfall
- Learning the YNAB allocation philosophy
- Redistributing funds after a category adjustment
Parameters:
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
budget_id |
No | The budget to analyze. Resolved automatically if omitted. |
What you'll get: A guided allocation workflow that walks through each priority tier, showing where your money should go first and why, based on your actual budget categories and goals.
Example Conversation¶
Here's what using the budget_health_analysis prompt looks like in practice:
User: Use the budget_health_analysis prompt
AI: I'll run a comprehensive health check on your budget. Let me start
by finding your budget...
[Calls manage_budgets with action="list"]
[Calls manage_months to get current month data]
[Reads budget categories and accounts]
## Budget Health Report
**To Be Budgeted:** $142.50
Your TBB is positive -- good, no overassignment.
**Overspending:** 1 category
- Dining Out: -$45.00 (cash overspending -- this will deduct from
next month's TBB)
**Underfunded Goals:** 3 categories
- Emergency Fund: $200 short of monthly target
- Car Insurance: $75 short of savings builder target
- Vacation: $150 short of target balance goal
**Recommendations:**
1. Cover the Dining Out overspending first ($45)
2. Fund Emergency Fund next -- it's your safety net
3. Remaining $97.50 toward Car Insurance (due sooner)