ynab-debt-payoff-planner

name	ynab-debt-payoff-planner
description	Helps build a sustainable debt-payoff plan that fits inside a real budget instead of fighting it. Use when a user says "help me pay off my credit cards", "snowball or avalanche, which should I do", "how do I set up a debt goal", "I keep going into debt for emergencies while paying off debt", or "what order should I attack my debts".
license	MIT
compatibility	Works standalone; optionally enriched with live goal/category data when the ynab-mcp MCP server is connected.
metadata	{"author":"auzroz","version":"1.0.0","mcp-server":"ynab-mcp"}

YNAB Debt Payoff Planner

What this does

Builds a sustainable debt-payoff plan grounded in YNAB's own recommended sequencing — cover monthly expenses, save for non-monthly true expenses, then attack one debt at a time — because paying debt aggressively while skipping the true-expenses buffer is the most common cause of relapsing back into new debt. Also walks through Debt Snowball vs. Debt Avalanche.

When to use this skill

• "Help me pay off my credit cards"
• "Snowball or avalanche, which should I do?"
• "How do I set up a debt goal?"
• "I keep going into debt for emergencies while paying off debt"
• "What order should I attack my debts?"

Should NOT trigger on: fixing already-overspent categories this month (use ynab-overspending-triage), or funding non-debt irregular costs (use ynab-true-expenses).

Workflow

Step 1: Explain the sequencing

Before picking a strategy, confirm the foundation is in place: monthly expenses covered, and at least a starter true-expenses buffer, before throwing extra money at debt. Attacking debt without this buffer is why many people end up back in debt the moment a car repair or medical bill hits.

Step 2: Choose a strategy

Present both, with YNAB's own stance:

• Debt Snowball (smallest balance first) — YNAB's own recommended default, "with a gold star," because paying off a full balance quickly creates psychological momentum that keeps people going.
• Debt Avalanche (highest interest rate first) — mathematically optimal (saves more in total interest), valid if the person is more motivated by the math than by quick wins. Let the person pick; both are legitimate.

Step 3 (if MCP-connected): Ground it in real numbers

Call MCP tool: ynab_list_categories and ynab_get_category — to see current debt category balances Call MCP tool: ynab_goal_progress — to check DEBT-type goal progress (YNAB's DEBT goal type is a per-category payoff target that pairs with either strategy)

Step 4: Set the plan

Order the debts per the chosen strategy, propose a DEBT goal for the first target, and note that other debts stay at minimum payments until the current target is cleared.

Output format

Sequencing check: monthly expenses covered? true-expenses buffer started?
  [yes/no — address gaps before proceeding]
Strategy: [Snowball / Avalanche] — [why this fits]
Payoff order:
1. [Debt name]: $X balance, Y% APR — attack first
2. [Debt name]: $X balance, Y% APR — minimum payments only
   ...
Suggested DEBT goal for #1: $Z/month

Troubleshooting

MCP connection failed — proceed in coaching mode using whatever numbers the user provides directly; note that live category/goal data isn't available this session.

Unauthorized / token expired — the YNAB connection needs re-authorization to pull live debt balances.

When the skill is NOT the right tool

• This-month overspending fixes — use ynab-overspending-triage.
• Non-debt irregular/annual costs — use ynab-true-expenses.