Using envelopes

[mateosbaby]

I've been using an Excel spreadsheet, debit card, and tracking every receipt to do my "envelopes" virtually. But I'd like to try at least some categories with real envelopes. What does this look like for you guys? How do you keep it straight when you're in line at the store, and how do you lug it around in your wallet/purse? Also, how do you not have "too much" cash on you so that you're vulnerable to a pickpocket/purse snatcher?

[Ceashels]

I have a small file box with envelops for each category. I only take money from them to carry with me when I know I'll be doing the shopping.

I used to carry one weeks worth with me but found myself doing the rob Peter to pay Paul routine and getting confused by the time I got home. lol

[EmilyD]

I have been using envelopes for the last year or so consistently.

What does this look like for you guys? How do you keep it straight when you're in line at the store, and how do you lug it around in your wallet/purse? Also, how do you not have "too much" cash on you so that you're vulnerable to a pickpocket/purse snatcher?

At this time, all bills are done in online bill pay.
The only envelopes are cash items.

My envelopes are:
My allowance
dh's allowance
Groceries
Gasoline (1 car)
Church
Entertainment (dh will hold and dispense)

Each envelope is marked in pencil and I put the paper change back into the envelope until used up. The coins go into my change jar when I get home.

My allowance I carry in the envelope in my purse.
dh puts his in his wallet
Groceries and gasoline usually only last over the weekend after payday, they stay in the envelopes as well
church stays in my purse for dispensing on church day

Basically, the only time I have "too much cash" is the first weekend.

The entertainment envelope is a new one, will start it next payday. We decided on a set amount to go in each payday ($50.00) Since I tend to spend what I have, I asked dh to care for it. We will use it to eat out on our date night's and an occasional movie and food for the movie. If it is not used it will accumulate until it is used.

I will also eventually set up a "vitual" freedom account for regular or periodic items (tags, repairs, replacements).
All money will go into a savings/checking account, separate "account" sheets will be set up and totals kept on them. I won't do this until I have the emergency fund to $1000.00.

[tmjsquared]

I am starting to use envelopes today for cash items. All other bills are paid online. I have a small plastic expanding file I used to use for Qs and is about the size of a wallet. I don't plan to carry the whole thing with me when I leave the house. I really only plan to carry a portion of the grocery money in case I need to stop for something on my way home and my allowance, so I am not worried about carrying a ton of cash. I will move my coins to a jar. (Thanks for the tip EmilyD!) Probably help with the time it takes to check out at the store. I don't have an envelope for gas/tolls. We use a debit card for those expenses and the amount is pretty consistent every month. Actually, recently went down now that my work commute is 1/4 of what it used to be! Trying to further reduce it by saying "no" to the kids' requests for a constant taxi service...

Many of my envelopes are necessary for me so I can put a little toward the expense each payday - in the past, haircuts, car expenses, sports fees felt like a "surprise" (even though I know they come up on a regular basis). Hopefully, this will alleviate some of that stress.

My categories are:
Groceries
My allowance (just keep in my wallet, it's like $10 per week)
Kids allowance
Car reg, oil, prop tax, inspection, license
Restaurant/Entertainment
Barber/Salon
School/Sports

Hope that helps!

[chavodel8]

I hope this doesn't qualify as an advertisement (terms of service stuff), because I get utterly no benefit from it. I'll just say that I use a tool called mvelopes (at mvelopes . com). It rocks.

It connects to my banks, brings in my transactions automatically, manages a cash account, and lets me organize things into envelopes however I want. I love it. I think you can get a limited version for free (a limited number of envelopes), and then if you want to upgrade to get more features, you can. Anyway, if anyone finds that useful, enjoy.

[my4littlebuffaloes]

We have used cash envelopes for upwards of 10 years or so. I find we spend less when we use cash. I have envelopes for medical, kids activities (if they want to go to the movies, ice cream, etc, small stuff), FOOD (the one you should definitely start with), eating out, toiletries, pets, clothing, gifts, scouts and school (for those misc small amounts that you seem to always need to send in - today it was $5 for movie night).

I am thinking of dropping pets and medical. We use our flex card for most things, pay bills with a check or debit card as they come in, etc. Finding I just don't need cash on hand for this. Pets - we have a section in our savings account to cover vet stuff, but the envelope is for food, bedding, etc - small stuff. I purchase this stuff once a month though and am never tempted by anything extra, so it just seems like an extra step to pull the cash from the bank, put it in the envelope, take it out before going to the store and paying.

I leave the CE system at home and just pull what I need for that trip. Sometimes this means I don't stop somewhere extra because I forgot the cash. Sometimes if I have to I will use the debit card and then when I get home pull the cash out to either be put back in the bank or used for gas (we usually use our debit for that).

Sorry that was so long, but that is how we do it.