I think I'm wierd

**mek42** · 04-22-2010, 11:56 AM

When I check my balance before purchases and then record purchases immediately (which I am usually good about doing) I spend less with my debit card than with cash, which seems to fall out of the proverbial hole in the pocket.

Am I the only one like this?

I've also been doing quick weekly handwritten budgets for the past few weeks and now have begun a weekly budget and statement of cash flows that I'm sharing with my wife via Google documents and am extending out into future weeks. Trying to put my inner geek to work.

**frugalfriend** · 04-22-2010, 12:21 PM

Remember, weird = good!

Way to go!

**daughter of pearl** · 04-22-2010, 12:25 PM

Whatever method works best for you is the right one...at the end of the day, the goal is to spend less! If you're meeting the goal, you're doing great!

Do you incur bank charges when you use debit? I do, which is why I pretty much only operate in cash.

**mek42** · 04-22-2010, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by daughter of pearl

Whatever method works best for you is the right one...at the end of the day, the goal is to spend less! If you're meeting the goal, you're doing great!

Do you incur bank charges when you use debit? I do, which is why I pretty much only operate in cash.

In the past three weeks I've only eaten out for lunch or breakfast maybe 5 times, when before I'd be eating out for lunch and breakfast closer to 10 times a week. I've bought toys with the extra cash as a reward to firm up the eating out lifestyle change. Now I'm starting to cut back on that and put towards snowball.

I use my debit card as a credit card (MC logo), so no charges for use.

**frugal is fun** · 04-22-2010, 01:14 PM

the only money I have attached to my debit card is my weekly "allowance". I have a little yellow sticky in my wallet so everytime I make a purchase I subtract the amount ALWAYS keeping a true total of what I have.

I never attach money to my debit card that I can't afford to spend.

Works like a charm for me!

**monkeywrangler71** · 04-22-2010, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by mek42

When I check my balance before purchases and then record purchases immediately (which I am usually good about doing) I spend less with my debit card than with cash, which seems to fall out of the proverbial hole in the pocket.

Am I the only one like this?

Nope. There are several of us here who attach more meaning to numbers than to slips of paper covered in pictures of dead guys. Cash in my pocket is gone, numbers on my balance sheet are sacred.

**Lady_V** · 04-22-2010, 01:44 PM

Weird is a good thing!

I check my balances online, on quicken and in my household book everyday and again if I am going to make a purchase and record everything as soon as I use the bank card.

We don't have CC's, so this keeps us on track and out of debt.

**ladykemma2** · 04-22-2010, 02:14 PM

if i spend cash it is gone, so i keep a runnning sticky note of what is left of my pocket money. use debit card only. i have been blasted on another dave ramsey site for doing this.

"you'll spend on impulse buys at the grocery checkout...!" uh, no I won't. I don't. i have much better control of myself with the debit card.

**Mom2-3** · 04-22-2010, 02:20 PM

I don't control cash very well. I also have that hole in pocket problem. lol I use a card for everything, keep track with a spreadsheet and pay off when the card is due. I don't impulse spend.

My debt was not from pretty shiny things. This works for us

**mateosbaby** · 04-22-2010, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by monkeywrangler71

Nope. There are several of us here who attach more meaning to numbers than to slips of paper covered in pictures of dead guys. Cash in my pocket is gone, numbers on my balance sheet are sacred.

This is exactly me! If I have cash, while I am very careful about using it (because it's rare that I actually have any), it does seem to disappear much faster than if I just use my debit card. I record receipts very diligently (usually

), and those numbers mean much more to me than how much cash is left in my pocket.

daughter of pearl, you get charged for using your debit card? What bank are you with? I've never heard of that before. And I've been with several banks & credit unions in the past 15 years.

**Imarachne** · 04-22-2010, 07:29 PM

Whatever gets you to your goal--everyone's ideas are useful, but only you know your situation. This forum has given me soooo many ideas.

**falan** · 04-22-2010, 07:49 PM

I always seem to do better without cash in hand. I allot myself a certain amount to spend and don't go over it. For some reason, that's easier on debit.

**dcompton** · 04-22-2010, 09:36 PM

Like many of the others, those numbers on the computer are real, and I (also usually) watch them carefully. But cash feels like free money. Almost the only thing I use it for is eating out, and never keep much with me. I to do better with a card, though I use a CC rather than debit because I like the cash back rewards and it feels more secure to me, whether that is true or not.

**krbshappy71** · 04-22-2010, 10:32 PM

I'm doing better with cash. Plastic wasn't real to me. Still isn't so I'm still on cash. Maybe forever.

Its truly about finding out what works for you as an individual, isn't it? I like this site and hearing about other people.