From the desktop of Joseph Dickson
A simple screenshot and export solution presented itself in the ramblings of my previous entry. Apple Notes can take a screenshot and includes an export to markdown feature. Both are quick solutions for keeping a digital journal without typing the contents from a notebook or drafting an actual blog post in the editor. I’m surprised I didn’t learn of this earlier, I may begin to use this old iPad a little more.
Update: The Markdown export feature is only a link to the note.
An iPad may be a good journaling companion but I wonder, what happens a decade or two down the road if the author dies. Family are unlikely to come across their entries as they would a notebook, blog or even a social media account. Does anyone worry about this? We live in an impermanent world, paper journals can be damaged, digital files deleted. How do we save who we are before we’re gone. Does it even matter? Who would care to read this fifty years from now when I’ve turned to dust? As it is someone would need my passcode, the battery and software work. That’s very unlikely. My iPod from 15 years ago probably doesn’t function. The fact I don’t know is already evidence of the impermanence of thought.
During the month of December I signed up for the 34 day free trial of YNAB and though I love the App, the You Need A Budget (YNAB) system is simple enough to track on paper; though most prefer the YNAB inspired spreadsheet from Blooming Finances.
If spreadsheets work why pencil and paper?
Today, I’ve got some downtime at work as the holidays approach, so I pulled out my under-utilized Laconic Gantt Chart and began to reflect on the first half of the month as well as looking forward to January and as I wrote each category down followed by, assigned dollars, account activity dollars, and remaining available, I discovered that even if its nowhere close to as efficient as a spreadsheet or app, YNAB on paper is not just possible, its relaxing; all my hard work of uncovering the real expenses in my life was done while I read the book and began to apply the system, keeping a paper and pencil record is not just doable but almost as easy.
In the last two weeks my anxiety for budgeting nearly disappeared and though YNAB’s current pricing at $109 per year isn’t cheap, it’s worth $9.08 a month for that peace of mind.
