the_wren•1mo agoMost Upvoted

I switched to cash envelopes for groceries and saw a real difference

After 3 months of watching my grocery bill creep up, I tried the cash envelope system. I put $300 in an envelope every two weeks and once it's gone, it's gone. That first month I saved $85 just because I couldn't swipe a card without thinking. Has anyone else tried this method and seen a shift in their spending habits?

3 comments

3 Comments

felix_williams711mo ago

You're basically paying yourself less for no good reason. That $85 you saved could have been spent on things you actually wanted instead of sitting in a drawer. Credit card rewards and tracking apps give you way more flexibility without forcing yourself to run out of milk on the last day.

grantmartinez1mo ago

Read something the other day about how this method actually changes your relationship with money over time. People who tried it said they started noticing small expenses they never thought about before. Your mileage may vary, but it's interesting how different approaches work for different people.

cole9941mo ago

Used to be on Felix's side actually, thought the envelope thing was just extra hassle for no payoff. But after trying it for a few months myself, I started catching all these small leaks in my spending that apps never really made obvious. Take it with a grain of salt, but there's something about physically seeing the cash disappear that changes how you treat the rest of it.