Appreciation post: I thought the 'cash envelope' thing was just for extreme cases, but using it for my $200 weekly grocery budget completely stopped my overspending. | Budgeting Wins - Pinecone Attack
Appreciation post: I thought the 'cash envelope' thing was just for extreme cases, but using it for my $200 weekly grocery budget completely stopped my overspending.
I was convinced it was a hassle until my friend in Denver showed me her system, and now I actually have money left from that category for the first time in... maybe ever... anyone have other categories where this works well for them?
You mentioning the grocery budget really hits home. I did the same thing with my "fun money" for the month. I was always blowing through it on little online orders without even feeling it. Now I pull out that cash and keep it in my wallet, and when it's gone, I'm done. Makes you really stop and ask, do I want this coffee or do I want to save for a movie later?
Cash envelopes work best for categories where you spend without thinking. I use them for dining out and gas, two areas where I used to just swipe my card without a second thought. Pulling out that physical cash makes each purchase feel real instead of just numbers on a screen.