you-need-an-mcp
An MCP server providing LLMs access to a YNAB budget.
Setup
1. Install Dependencies
uv sync
2. Get YNAB Access Token
To use this MCP server, you need a YNAB Personal Access Token:
- Log into your YNAB account at https://app.youneedabudget.com
- Go to Account Settings (click your email in the top right corner)
- Click on Developer Settings in the left sidebar
- Click New Token
- Enter a token name (e.g., "MCP Server")
- Click Generate
- Copy the generated token (you won't be able to see it again)
3. Set Environment Variables
export YNAB_ACCESS_TOKEN=your_token_here
Optionally, set a default budget ID to avoid having to specify it in every call:
export YNAB_DEFAULT_BUDGET=your_budget_id_here
4. Run the Server
uv run python server.py
Available Tools
list_budgets()- Returns all your YNAB budgetslist_accounts(budget_id=None, limit=100, offset=0, include_closed=False)- Returns accounts with pagination and filteringlist_categories(budget_id=None, limit=50, offset=0, include_hidden=False)- Returns categories with pagination and filteringlist_category_groups(budget_id=None)- Returns category groups with totals (lighter weight overview)
Pagination
The list_accounts and list_categories tools support pagination. Use the offset parameter to get subsequent pages:
- First page:
list_categories(limit=50, offset=0) - Second page:
list_categories(limit=50, offset=50) - Check
pagination.has_moreto see if there are more results
Security Note
Keep your YNAB access token secure and never commit it to version control. The token provides read access to all your budget data.