I am debt-free thanks to YNAB and now when I buy something big, I really feel it. Before I buy something I always go to YNAB and see what it feels like to empty a category or move money away. If it doesn’t feel good, I’ll usually sleep on it a few nights until I feel comfortable making the purchase. A lot of times I’ve just outright skipped the purchase!
I like that it takes the sting away from unexpected but expected expenses. I stress less when someone’s birthday comes up and it’s like oh yeah, I actually put money aside for gifts this year or on the other end of the spectrum, my plumbing burst and I had enough money in my home maintenance fund to cover it.