That's the exact worry that keeps me up at night. You're basically buying a beta version of a building and hoping the developer actually patches the bugs. Older stock might need updates, but at least the big structural surprises are usually done.

My aunt does something similar but with her coffee habit. She leaves her debit card at home and only brings a ten dollar bill to work. If she wants a fancy latte, it has to come from that cash. She says it makes her really stop and ask if she needs it, because once the ten is gone, it's gone. It's funny how a physical limit works better than just seeing a number on your phone screen. The envelope thing seems like the same idea, just for a bigger part of your budget.

Remember my friend telling me to just buy a plant instead of researching perfect indoor trees for a year. Bought a weird cactus that looks like a bunch of fingers, and it's the only thing I haven't killed. Sometimes the bad advice is just permission to stop overthinking, right?

Heard they call that a "noisy box" now?

Sounds like you just proved her wrong.