I don't but now I'm thinking about to help control our spending...we always go over budget on groceries and eating out....
How do you control your spending?
-
@butterbean: we use cash for those specific categeories. I have them in envelopes in my purse. I always meal plan and that helps. I try not to buy impulsively at the grocery store (harder when dh comes too!)
-
I normally don't, I find that I eat out more when I have cash as oppose to when I have to put it on the card. I hate seeing it in our online statement so I very rarely swipe, however if I have a $10 bill you better believe I will swing through a drive thru and order lunch...
-
Never unless I need to for a specific reason. We use YNAB to track everything
-
Pretty much never. Have you tried using a budgeting tool like YNAB or Mint? We started using YNAB a few months ago and it's really improved our spending habits.
-
Hardly ever!
-
I usually have $20-40 cash on me, it's just easier for paying for small things.
-
I have small bills, like $5 and singles.
We were also out of control with food spending, it took my husband actually seeing what he was spending on a daily basis to make some changes.
-
Yep! We use cash for everything except gas. I take out what we will need based on your budget and use my own version of dave ramsey s envelope system twice a month (half at the beginning, half in the middle. It works great for us! We always spend more if we slack off and rely on our debit card.
-
@Mrs. Lion: I have a friend who used this system and she saved enough for a down payment on a house in no time. It's pretty effective!
-
I carry cash most of the time...
What are you spending unnecessarily on? i think it's important to know what your weakness is! If it's groceries and eating out....is it because you don't meal plan well/cheaply? Is the eating out because you aren't prepared with leftovers and such? for me, planning for the week is really important.
-
@yellowbird: I'm leaning towards the envelope system...do you jut go to the ATM right before you go to the store and pull out cash? Or do you have it on you for the week/month?
@Danizaur: @lawbee11: I've been looking at ynab...the only thing holding me back is paying for it ..
-
@butterbean: They have a free trial. You could try it out and see what you think. They also frequently have sales. I got it for 50% off, and it's a one-time fee, not a monthly or yearly subscription, so I think it pays for itself once you factor in how much better you are with budgeting your money once you use it. Withdrawing large sums of cash makes me nervous because if it gets stolen/misplaced it's gone and there's nothing you can do about it whereas with a credit card at least you can dispute charges.
-
@looch: it's amazing what the effects are when we actually see how much we spend...I track our spending with an excel spreadsheet and my mouth drops when I see how much we spent eating out...but it's just so convenient especially we are so tired to prepare anything
@Mrs. Lion: my husband and I are open to the envelope system for certain categories...but I know it will tAke some discipline because it is so easy to just swipe your card to pay for stuff
@blackbird: meal planning is tough...we will plan out our meals for the week but executing it is hard cuz we're tired...I will probably look into crock pot meals....we eat out the most on weekends when we are out and about....ahhhh
-
@butterbean: it is really tough. The first couple months are the hardest and took some getting used to, but I don't think anything of it now. I used to leave my debit card in the glove compartment of my car until I adapted to using cash. It really forces you to think through what you put in the cart when swiping plastic literally isn't an option.
-
I spend cash way more easily than swiping a card, so I haven't tried out that system.
I do use mint to track my spending though. I like that it will send me alerts once a week (or when I near the end of a budget).
-
@butterbean: start small! We still spend some money on eating outside of the house, it's just not possible for me to get breakfast, lunch and dinner together all week when we're both working.
I started with bringing my breakfast, then lunch. I still buy two days a week.
-
@butterbean: I prep on weekends to avoid that. I mean, if you know what your pitfall is, all you can do is problem solve it to the best of your ability!
-
I hate carrying cash but have to here, it is a major cash society. Even the pediatrician only takes cash!
-
Not often. My husband gets paid cash for fitness clients and he will split the cash with me. But I don't record any of it in our monthly budgets.
-
I often have a LITTLE cash on me. Like, less than $20. But not always. I just like having a few dollars in my wallet. Seems to come in handy sometimes.
-
I am thinking about carrying cash as well. My town is very pro-local and many places only accept cash or check! I was surprised at my dentist the other day when I tried to use my debit card (it is a really high end place and they actually do take cards but prefer and give discounts for cash or check.)
I think using cash is a great idea.
-
I always carry cash. I rarely use it though. It's for those occasions for restaurants that don't accept credit cards or places that are only cash only. Other than that... everything is else is on the credit card so that we can track our spending better. I normally know how much cash I take out during a period usually run out of cash in about 6 months - we take out about 200 dollars for that 6 months period, and put that in our budget. Good luck!
-
I hate carrying cash! I try not to carry more than $20 at a time.
-
I try to keep a little cash on hand for just in case purposes! But I use card whenever possible! YNAB helps us control our spending.
-
Never - I find it easier to track where my money goes on MINT when I pay for everything through my cards.
The only thing I pay for with cash are coffee runs.
-
I always carry about $40 to $60 on me, just in case I go to an Asian restaurant that is "CASH only." Plus, my hubby requests cash for the week (about $20) for those times, he goes out with his co-workers and they all have to pitch in for the bill. I put it in my YNAB as "spending money/ATM" whenever I have to withdraw any money, just so I can have my balances match.
-
@butterbean: I always go to the at right before I go to the grocery store. I don't like carrying large quantities of cash. For eating out I get it all at the beginning of the month and when it's gone it's gone.
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
27 comments