My cheap envelope system trick finally clicked last month

I kept overspending on groceries even with a budget, so I tried the cash envelope method from that Dave Ramsey video. I put $400 cash in an envelope for Aldi runs every two weeks, and seeing the actual bills disappear made me stop buying random snacks. Now I'm wondering if anyone else found that using physical cash works better than tracking on an app for certain categories?

2 comments

2 Comments

sage_perry20d ago

Wait, is it the physical cash part or the envelope part that's the real trick? I tried cash envelopes last summer and it was a nightmare for me. I lost the envelope twice, forgot to bring it to the store, and ended up just stuffing random bills in my pockets. The app I use actually works better because I can check my balance right at the register without waving a wad of cash around. Plus carrying cash makes me paranoid about getting robbed.

johnson.lee20d ago

Hang on, did you try the physical cash part or the envelopes? In my experience, the envelope system only works if you actually touch the cash. But your mileage may vary, I've had friends swear by apps too.