Ditching cash envelopes actually helped my budget

Everyone says cash envelopes are the best way to stick to a budget, but I think that's wrong. I stopped using them and just use a basic app on my phone now. With cash, I'd forget what I spent on little things, like snacks or parking meters. The app lets me type in each buy right after it happens, so I always know where I stand. Last month, this caught a bunch of small coffee runs adding up, and I saved $80. It might not feel as real as holding money, but for me, the numbers on screen make more sense. Plus, my pockets don't get full of receipts anymore.

3 comments

3 Comments

patg921mo ago

Seriously, I tried the whole cash envelope thing for groceries last year and it stressed me out more than it helped. I'd get to the register and be like five dollars short because I forgot about tax, then have to put something back while people waited. Switched to just keeping a running total in my phone's notes app before I even get in line. Way less pressure, and I can move money around between categories if I need to without having actual cash on me.

miles_webb481mo ago

You forgot about tax the whole time?

brooken991mo ago

Wait, is holding up a line for thirty seconds really that bad? People act like putting back a jar of sauce is some huge public failure. The whole point of cash is feeling the limit. Your phone notes just let you cheat the system you set up. If you're constantly moving money between categories on the fly, you never really stick to a budget. Sounds like the envelope method was working, you just hated the minor awkwardness.